On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released Veteran unemployment data for the month of July. While the unemployment rate for all Veterans fell to 6.9 percent, the unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan-era Veterans (or Gulf War II-era Veterans) fell more than half a percentage point to 8.9 percent. The steadier 12-month moving average also fell to 10.4 percent—the lowest figure we’ve seen since 2009.

While much remains to be done, since November 2011, post-9/11 Veterans have experienced the lowest unemployment rate in any combined eight-month period since 2008—with the rate reaching single digits in five of those months. Additionally, the trend over the past 31 months—since January 2010—remains downward for America’s most recent Veterans.

Month-to-month unemployment rate figures for this demographic are fairly volatile, but the long-term trend has shown a consistent decline over more than two and a half years—a strong sign of recovery following the worst economic recession since The Great Depression.


Because chunks of data are often better indicators of real movement, another way to view the trend is by looking at the moving (or rolling) average. The chart below captures 12-month averages for the periods ending each month since January 2010. This chart looks a bit different, but the trend is similar: modest, but markedly downward. This is significant because the moving 12-month average is a far more conservative measure than the month-to-month data. When we see downward movement in the moving average, we can be confident that the unemployment rate among post-9/11 Veterans is, indeed, falling.


All that said, while we’re heartened that the unemployment rate among younger Veterans has fallen over the long term, too many returning Veterans still can’t find meaningful work.

That’s why VA is collaborating with the White House and the Chamber of Commerce on hiring fairs across the country through the “Hiring Our Heroes” Program. It’s also why we’re urging Veterans to prepare themselves for the job market by taking advantage of programs like the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Veterans Retraining and Assistance Program (VRAP).

If anything, today’s positive figure reminds us that there’s still much work to be done. VA, in conjunction with the White House, remains committed to ensuring that the unemployment rate for all Veterans continues its downward path.

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4 Comments

  1. USMC VET August 17, 2012 at 18:16

    I have been unemployed for the past 2 years. Luckily the GI bill helped out but I have my degree already and still can’t find a job! I have a lot of friends that are unemployed still. I put out at least 10 applications a day on average and get nothing! This new bill that passed to help vet’s receive employment (where the hiring companies get tax cuts for hiring vets)…do they know about it?

    I feel this stat report is not accurate (most surveys aren’t anyway) and serves to give false hope. Maybe they are only counting veterans collecting unemployment? Because I am unemployed and NOT collecting unemployment. I wonder where that report is and if they even track it?

  2. Phil August 14, 2012 at 19:44

    I guess I didn’t make it on to this survey. I was medboarded two years ago, went back and completed my degree, graduating Summa Cum Laude. I still haven’t been able to find a job. Because of my injuries I have had to start in a whole new field and so I’m applying with all the other college grads who don’t have any experience in the field I had to go into. This article is just an election gimmic to tell everyone it’s not as bad as it really is. It’s hard to pull the wool over the eyes of those who still can’t provide for their families. Thanks for using us for your PR stunt.

  3. michael tichonuk August 14, 2012 at 13:46

    I suspect theres a …untold number of Vets who dont fit into any of the boxes they use to collect this data. Many are off the grid, so to speak. The Vets I see dont represent this data at all.

  4. Bruddah iz August 12, 2012 at 14:39

    Brandon do the figures that you state take in to account what percentage of unemployed veterans are “discouraged workers”?

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