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Questions and Answers
Are you aware of any current studies that are being conducted on
the unemployment rate of returning veterans from the current War in Iraq
and Afghanistan?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics uses a biennial special supplement
to the monthly Current Population Survey to obtain detailed data on the
labor force characteristics of veterans. The most recent special
supplement was conducted in August 2005. The 2005 version was the first
to separately identify Gulf War-era veterans, and in some cases,
provides a further breakdown between Gulf War era I veterans (August
1990 to August 2001) and Gulf War era II veterans (service since
September 2001).
As a reference point, the national unemployment rate for all nonveterans
18 years old and older was 4.7 percent during August 2005. Meanwhile,
the unemployment rate for all veterans (regardless of period of service)
at the time was 3.9 percent. The unemployment rate for all Gulf War era
veterans was 5.2 percent. The greatest difference between Gulf War era
veterans and nonveterans was for the youngest group of veterans. The
unemployment rate for nonveterans aged 18 to 24 years was 9.9 percent,
while the unemployment rate for Gulf War veterans of the same age group
was 18.7 percent.
Comparing the two Gulf Ware eras, the total unemployment rate among Gulf
Ware era I veterans was 3.6 percent during August 2005. This was well
below the national average jobless rate at the time. The unemployment
rate for the more recent Gulf War era II veterans was 9.5 percent. This
high jobless rate is largely due to the disproportionate number of young
era II veterans and the high rate of joblessness among this group.
Slightly older Gulf War veterans posted unemployment rates below
nonveterans of the same age group.
Overall, both male and female Gulf War veterans tend to have higher
rates of labor force participation than do their nonveteran
counterparts. However, the youngest group of veterans has been faced
with high unemployment upon entry or reentry to the labor force.
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