Veteran Unemployment - A Look at the Numbers

Every month the Department of Labor releases unemployment figures for the prior month. Since January 2011 I have kept a spreadsheet loaded with the DOL figures, and once the new numbers come out I update the twelve month rolling average and publish it here and on Facebook.  

Here's what the numbers tell me:

• The average US military veteran of all eras is 9.5% LESS likely to be unemployed than a non-veteran (this is good).
• The average Desert Storm era veteran is 20% LESS likely to be unemployed than a non-veteran (also good).
• The average post 9/11 (called GW era II) is over 28% MORE likely to be unemployed than a non-veteran (not good).

Let's break it down by men:

• The average male veteran is 14% LESS likely to be unemployed than a male non-veteran.
• The average Desert Storm era male veteran, 18% LESS likely unemployed than male non-veteran.
• Average post 9/11 male veteran is 11.5% MORE likely unemployed than a male non-veteran.

Women:

• The average female veteran is 12% MORE likely to be unemployed than a female non-veteran.
• The average Desert Storm era female veteran, 10% MORE likely unemployed than a female non-veteran.
• The average post 9/11 female veteran, 63% MORE likely to be unemployed than a female non-veteran.

In every instance, the post 9/11 veteran is significantly more likely to be out of a job than someone who never wore the uniform - but look at the female statistics.  In every instance, a female veteran is more likely unemployed than a female who never served.