Younger veterans returning from the gulf war are more likely to be unemployed than non-veterans of their same age group, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2012 report released Wednesday. However, they are more likely to find work in public sector jobs than their non-veteran cohorts. Women veterans are finding management and professional jobs to a greater degree than males and non-veteran women.
Younger veterans more likely to be unemployed
Twenty (20.0) percent of male Gulf War-era II veterans age 18 to 24 were unemployed, while 16.4 percent of nonveterans of the same age group were unemployed last year. Male veterans aged 25 to 34 are more likely to find jobs. Only 10.4 percent are unemployed. But their nonveteran counterparts are only 8.1 percent unemployed. Older returnees from the Gulf War are finding jobs at about the same pace as nonveterans.
Veterans are finding jobs in public sector
About a quarter (25 percent) of employed Gulf War-era II veterans were working in the public sector in 2012. The federal government employed 14 percent of Gulf War-era II non-veterans.
Women vets are getting management and professional jobs
An amazingly high number of women come out of the service into management and professional jobs. About 50 percent of employed Gulf War-era II women veterans are working in management and professional occupations compared to 42 percent of nonveteran women. Only one-third of men now working are in management and professional occupations whether they are veterans or non-veterans.
Jobless rate improved for 2012
The good news is that gulf war-era II veteran unemployment was 9.9 percent in 2012. This is a 2.2 percent drop from the previous year.
Non-reservists are more likely without a job
The unemployment rate of all non-reservist veterans was at a high 13.7 percent in August 2012. Current or past members of the Reserve or National Guard had a much better 7.2 percent unemployment rate.
Household survey
The Current Population Survey is a monthly sample of about 60,000 households surveying employment and unemployment in the United States.
For more information, see Five facts about employment on Veterans' Day.
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