Post-9/11 veterans’ unemployment rate spikes


By SB Anderson

The unemployment rate for veterans who have served since 9/11 hit 10% in August, the highest point since January, monthly data from the Bureau of Labor statistics released today showed.

The rate for all veterans dropped slightly to 6.2%, as did the rate for non-veterans overall (7.2%).

Some 226,000 Post-9/11 veterans were unemployed — up 36% in a month. For women, the rise was more dramatic; 43,000 without work was 60% higher than July.

“More than a single report, we know that too many post-9/11 veterans continue to struggle to find employment. We have made progress as a nation, but there is more we must do to support veterans’ transition from combat to career,” Derek Bennett of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America said in a release.

The chart below shows the unemployment trends since 2008.