Military Connection: Veteran Unemployment June 2014: By Debbie Gregory

On July 3rd, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released their monthly employment report, The Employment Situation–June 2014. Among the data collected and tracked in the report is the unemployment rate as it pertains to varying demographics throughout the country, including Veterans of WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam, and both Gulf Wars (Desert Storm and Post-9/11 Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.)

According to the June report, Veterans lost ground across the board in terms of unemployment rates. All Veterans over the age of 18 saw an unemployment increase by.4% , from 5% in May to 5.4% in June.

Overall, Veteran demographics fared better than the civilian demographics. This is largely due to the excellent unemployment rates from WWII/Korea/Vietnam Veterans at 5.1% and Gulf War I Veterans at 4.6%. But our most recently transitioned Veterans from Gulf War II are up to more than a full point over the national average for June.

Gulf War II Veterans rose drastically after a huge dip in May. In April, the Gulf War II unemployment rate was at 6.7% and dropped to 5.5% in May and spiked up to 7% for June.

Male Veterans in the Gulf War II demographic were only slightly over the 6% national unemployment rate at 6.3%. Female Veterans from this same era recorded a 10.3% unemployment rate for June, 2014, demographically making them the second highest unemployed group. The highest consists of female Veterans aged 60 to 90 from the WWII/Korea/Vietnam eras, who recorded a 10.9% unemployment rate.

While many government programs and private organizations, companies and individuals have made tremendous progress in lowering Gulf War II Veteran unemployment, the fact that Veteran unemployment, in any demographic, is above the national average is unacceptable. Veterans need jobs, and they deserve consideration when companies are hiring.

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