PM urges businesses to hire veterans

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has made a strong pitch to business to employ former defence personnel, saying they have unique skills and extraordinary experience.

Launching a new program aimed at getting former defence workers into skilled jobs in Sydney on Thursday, Mr Turnbull said he would never instruct business to hire veterans as a patriotic obligation but they should feel free to do so.

"I want to encourage employers like yourselves to open your doors to this talent pool, to consider how the leadership and the skills that veterans hold, regardless of their core or their rank, can benefit your organisations," he said.

Mr Turnbull said younger and older veterans all made the same point to him, that employer awareness of their experience and skills needed to be improved.

Under the plan, businesses will be encouraged to partner with ex-service organisations to develop strategies for boosting veteran employment.

The government will assist the transition from defence to the civilian workforce by ensuring personnel have all the documentation they need , including health, superannuation and training records.

Separating defence personnel will also have access to employment coaching services to help them seek and obtain employment.

As well, the Public Service Commission will develop a toolkit for those seeking employment in the public service.

Mr Turnbull said defence personnel used state-of-the-art equipment, right at the cutting edge of 21st century technology.

"They have acquired the type of skills employers value so much in this modern digital economy," he said.