September 4, 2013. The Department of Labor announced new rules to become effective which require federal contractors to meet certain metrics in their employment of veterans and the disabled. Specifically, contractors will be required to measure the percentage of veteran employees. Contractors will establish a hiring benchmark based on the national percentage of veterans in the workforce or on the “best available data and factors unique to their establishments.” Each contractor will be expected to aspire to hiring disabled workers and meet a 7% goal. The proposed rules are available here: