According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were approximately 1.2 million women veterans (5 percent of all veterans) in the United States in 1996. Female veterans were 84 percent white, 12 percent black, and 4 percent Hispanic. Between 1987 and 1991, women accounted for 11 percent of persons separating from the military, a number that is likely to increase. Women veterans are usually younger and more educated than male veterans, and more than half of them served during peacetime. Because of their military experience, women veterans have the education, training, motivation, and skills demanded by employers. As civilians, about 100,000 women veteran officers work as administrators; 235,000 women veterans work in managerial and professional occupations; and 90,000 work in service-related occupations. Because of concern that women separating from the military are unaware of their benefits, the Women's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor has begun the following programs to help women veterans make the transition to the civilian labor force: the Women Veterans Training and Placement Program; the Forum on Women Veterans' Employment Issues: Preparing for the Year 2000; the Transition Assistance Program; and the National Summit on Women Veterans Issues. (KC)