Wells Fargo Study Finds Veterans Report Greater Career Satisfaction, Financial Confidence and Optimism About AI
SAN FRANCISCO--( BUSINESS WIRE)--A new Wells Fargo survey, conducted by Morning Consult, finds veteran respondents report stronger outcomes than non-veterans across career satisfaction, financial confidence and readiness for an AI-enabled workplace. The research also identifies a continuing challenge: nearly half of veterans say the transition from military to civilian life was difficult.
“Our research shows veterans report strong career satisfaction and financial confidence and view themselves as ready to embrace emerging technology."
Of those surveyed, veterans are more likely than non-veterans to be very satisfied with their career progress (44% vs. 32%), very confident about achieving financial security and peace of mind (35% vs. 21%), and optimistic about how AI will affect their future (58% vs. 46%).
“Veterans bring resilience, leadership and adaptability that continue to create value long after military service ends,” said Sean Passmore, Head of Enterprise Military and Veteran Initiatives, Neurodiversity, and Disability Employment Strategy for Wells Fargo. “Our research shows veterans report strong career satisfaction and financial confidence and view themselves as ready to embrace emerging technology. At the same time, the findings reinforce the important role employers can play in helping veterans translate their military experience into meaningful civilian careers.”
Veterans report stronger career progress
Veteran respondents report greater satisfaction with their careers and place more emphasis on leadership and mentorship:
At the same time, veterans are more likely to report difficulty of past experiences translating into civilian job qualifications (16% vs. 7%), pointing to an opportunity for employers to strengthen skills-based hiring and veteran career pathways.
Veterans show greater financial confidence
Among those who consider each part of financial success, veterans surveyed report greater confidence in achieving several financial goals:
Veterans are more optimistic about AI
Veterans also report greater optimism and confidence related to artificial intelligence and workplace technology:
And among employed respondents:
Employers have an opportunity to support veteran talent
Nearly half of surveyed veterans (49%) say their transition from military to civilian life was difficult. Veterans who experienced a difficult transition report lower career satisfaction, less financial confidence and greater concern about job security than veterans whose transitions were easier.
Veterans also identified employer practices that influence where they choose to work, either a great deal or a fair amount:
Competitive pay and purpose both matter: 59% of veteran respondents say competitive pay is very important when selecting an employer, while 53% say they would accept lower pay for work that feels more meaningful.
Wells Fargo's commitment to veterans
For more than 170 years, Wells Fargo has supported veterans, service members and military families, with a continued focus on helping military-connected individuals successfully navigate life’s transitions. Today, that commitment includes creating pathways to meaningful careers, providing financial education and resources, investing in workforce development and supporting programs that help veterans translate their military experience into civilian opportunities and prepare for the future of work.
About the survey
This survey was conducted online by Morning Consult from October 1 to 11, 2026, among a total of 4,000 U.S. adults from the general public ages 18-65: 2,000 veterans and 2,000 non-veterans. Results are weighted by gender, age, race/ethnicity, education, region, and employment status to reflect a representative sample of each respective audience. The margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points. Differences cited are statistically significant at the 95% confidence level.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $2.3 trillion in assets. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 38 on Fortune's 2026 rankings of America's largest corporations. News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.
Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellsfargo
News Release Category: WF-V