The June 2014 unemployment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Veterans are, as a whole, doing slightly better than non-Veterans despite increases in unemployment.

The 12 month rolling averages show that Veterans and non-Veterans overall are doing better than they were a year ago. Gulf War II Veteran unemployment has consistently decreased since February 2014.

June 2013 - June 2014 Unemployment Rolling Average

June 2013 – June 2014 Unemployment Rolling Average

Veteran unemployment rates increased by .4 percent while non-Veteran unemployment rates increased by .1 percent. Gulf War II Veteran unemployment rates increased by 1.7 percent.

Jun14Unemployment

June 2013 – June 2014 Unemployment Rates

From May to June in both 2013 and 2014, we saw that women, both Veterans and non-Veterans, had increased unemployment rates, as did non-Veterans in general. During those times, Gulf War II Veteran women in particular had higher rates.

Conversely, we see inconsistencies in all Veterans, Gulf War II Veterans, male Veterans in general and male Veterans of Gulf War II with decreased unemployment rates from May to June 2013 but increased rates from May to June 2014.

Women Veterans, specifically Gulf War II women Veterans, are doing worse than non-Veteran women. The unemployment rate for women Veterans as a whole increased by 1.7 percent while non-Veteran women unemployment rate increased by .1 percent. Gulf War II Veteran women’s unemployment increased by 3 percent.

June 2013 - June 2014 Women Unemployment Rates

June 2013 – June 2014 Women Unemployment Rates

Male Veterans as a whole are doing better than their non-Veteran counterparts for the past year. Last month, the unemployment rate for Gulf War II male Veterans dropped below their non-Veteran counterparts for the first time since July 2013. This month the Gulf War II male Veterans’ unemployment rate increased by 1.3 percent putting them .2 percent higher than non-Veteran men.

June 2013 - June 2014 Women Unemployment Rates

June 2013 – June 2014 Men Unemployment Rates

In April, Joining Forces launched the Veterans Employment Center, a new online platform which supports transitioning service members, veterans, and their spouses looking for new career opportunities. This site helps simplify the job search process by providing the most important online career tools within government in one place. This tool is a result of collaboration between the Department of Defense, Department of Labor, Office of Personnel Management, Small Business Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Job seekers can use the “military skills translator” to match military career tracks with civilian occupations and critical skills, create and upload a resume online, and find public and private job openings in a single search. Employers are provided with a direct feed of resumes from Veteran applicants, can view reverse skills translation (military to civilian skills) for applicants, and can make public their own Veterans hiring goals.

Watch a video about the new employment center here https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/jobs.

Analyze the data yourself at http://vaww.blogstest.va.gov/VAntage/resources/unemployment/

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4 Comments

  1. Enrique V. Pujals July 8, 2014 at 00:38

    I believe that Federal law already covers that, I think it’s The Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act but as for the penalties to employers in the law, I do not know. Perhaps there is one more example of paper hassles in order to get the relief that the vet either gives up or just will not go there. This law goes back to WWII for returning GI’s who lost jobs when drafted or enlisted.

    • Jay Armstrong July 18, 2014 at 03:40

      That first comment, I had to have a shot of whisky and chase it with may beers! He’s an idiot, and common prodigy of todays system generated idiots. Thy are the future, like it or not. I’m a gulf war vet with service related disabilities, it sucks but that’s the way it is. The VA are a purpose built facility to deem whatever the elites in charge in WA DC deem necessary. The denial of veteran benefits is in the plan. Get used to the future if you don’t want to fight for the things our forefathers fought for in the past. Jay Armstrong freedom fighter for the resistance, Alaska

  2. patrick jahnke July 7, 2014 at 16:21

    U know job service can not help a veteran for a job! They guide u & how to fill out a job app it the employers u need to make a deal with . they refused deal paper work grants to Nite the veteran . employer when he or she goes fight their job should be their . employers Dont rehired them should fine $10,000. To help him or her find a new job by school pay rent yr . it never ending jobs for veterans and disable veterans (white males) we are number 4 or 5 for hire. Women are 1 , 2-3 are others because they have. To follow government rules so it has happened to me many times. Government needs to change laws who get hired 1st. Government need to contact company’s to re hired. Their veteran, if they refused they need to help the veteran regain employment to be self maintain. And have happy family life if married or have a child
    ..

    • mike summer July 8, 2014 at 12:37

      This comment makes me sad for America in so many ways…

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