Overview
On May 3rd, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that employment increased by 175,000 in April, and the unemployment rate changed little at 3.9 percent. Job gains occurred in health care, in social assistance, and in transportation and warehousing.[1] For veterans, unemployment increased from 3.0 percent in March to 3.1 percent in April. Post-9/11 veteran unemployment also increased, moving from 2.8 percent in March to 3.5 percent in April. The overall unemployment trend displays variations across different veteran demographic factors, with certain groups being more impacted than others.
In terms of age, the unemployment rate for veterans aged 18-24 increased in April, from 6.4 percent to 8.5 percent. Conversely, the unemployment rate for veterans aged 25-34 decreased from 4.2 percent to 2.6 percent. During this period, veterans aged 18-24 had higher unemployment rates (8.5 percent) compared to their nonveteran peers of the same age group (6.7 percent in April), while veterans aged 25-34 continued to have lower unemployment rates (2.6 percent) compared to their nonveteran counterparts in the same age group (3.6 percent in April).
The unemployment rate for veterans aged 65 and older decreased in April, dropping from 4.2 percent to 3.3 percent. Veterans aged 65 and older were unemployed at a lower rate than their nonveteran peers of the same age group in April (2.7 percent). The unemployment rate for female veterans decreased in April, dropping from 2.4 percent to 0.7 percent. In comparison, female nonveterans had an unemployment rate of 3.2 percent in April. The unemployment rate for male veterans increased slightly in April, from 3.1 percent to 3.5 percent. By comparison, male nonveterans had an unemployment rate of 3.6 percent in April.
The unemployment rate for Black or African American veterans decreased slightly from 2.9 percent to 2.8 percent in April. This rate remained lower than the unemployment rate for their nonveteran counterparts (5.1 percent in April). The unemployment rate for Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin veterans increased from 3.9 percent to 4.0 percent in April, which was still lower than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (4.4 percent in April). However, readers should be cautioned that data on specific veteran subgroups can vary widely from month to month.
Demographics & Trends
The following tables summarize the employment situation of veterans in America based on BLS data released on May 3, 2024. These are unpublished data from the Current Population Survey, not seasonally adjusted, and represent the period ending April 2024.
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR: | March 2024 | April 2024 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2023 |
| All Americans (18 and over) | 3.8 | 3.4 | -0.4 | 3.5 |
| All Veterans | 3.0 | 3.1 | +0.1 | 2.8 |
| Post-9/11 Veterans | 2.8 | 3.5 | +0.7 | 3.3 |
| Gulf-War I Era Veterans | 3.4 | 2.4 | -1.0 | 2.3 |
| WWII, Korean War and Vietnam Era | 5.6 | 3.2 | -2.4 | 2.5 |
| All Nonveterans | 3.8 | 3.4 | -0.4 | 3.6 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR VETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | March 2024 | April 2024 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2023 |
| 18–24 | 6.4 | 8.5 | +2.1 | 7.8 |
| 25-34 | 4.2 | 2.6 | -1.6 | 4.0 |
| 35-44 | 1.9 | 4.1 | +2.2 | 3.0 |
| 45-54 | 3.0 | 1.8 | -1.2 | 2.0 |
| 55-64 | 2.3 | 3.2 | +0.9 | 2.3 |
| 65 and older | 4.2 | 3.3 | -0.9 | 2.6 |
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| Male | 3.1 | 3.5 | +0.4 | 2.7 |
| Female | 2.4 | 0.7 | -1.7 | 3.2 |
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| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 3.1 | 3.2 | +0.1 | 2.7 |
| Black or African American | 2.9 | 2.8 | -0.1 | 3.3 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 3.9 | 4.0 | +0.1 | 2.9 |
| Asian or Asian American | – | – | – | 2.5 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR POST-9/11 VETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | March 2024 | April 2024 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2023 |
| 18–24 | 6.4 | 8.5 | +2.1 | 7.8 |
| 25-34 | 4.2 | 2.6 | -1.6 | 4.0 |
| 35-44 | 2.1 | 4.4 | +2.3 | 2.8 |
| 45-54 | 2.2 | 2.1 | -0.1 | 2.0 |
| 55-64 | 2.0 | 2.6 | +0.6 | 2.8 |
| 65 and older | – | 7.0 | – | 1.1 |
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| Male | 2.7 | 4.0 | +1.3 | 3.2 |
| Female | 3.6 | 0.9 | -2.7 | 3.4 |
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| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 3.2 | 3.3 | +0.1 | 3.2 |
| Black or African American | 2.1 | 4.8 | +2.7 | 4.3 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 3.7 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 3.8 |
| Asian or Asian American | – | – | – | 1.0 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR NONVETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | March 2024 | April 2024 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2023 |
| 18–24 | 8.0 | 6.7 | -1.3 | 7.5 |
| 25-34 | 4.3 | 3.6 | -0.7 | 3.9 |
| 35-44 | 2.8 | 2.7 | -0.1 | 2.8 |
| 45-54 | 3.2 | 2.8 | -0.4 | 2.5 |
| 55-64 | 2.7 | 2.8 | +0.1 | 2.6 |
| 65 and older | 2.8 | 2.7 | -0.1 | 2.8 |
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| Male | 4.1 | 3.6 | -0.5 | 3.8 |
| Female | 3.6 | 3.2 | -0.4 | 3.4 |
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| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 3.4 | 3.1 | -0.3 | 3.2 |
| Black or African American | 6.4 | 5.1 | -1.3 | 5.5 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 4.5 | 4.4 | -0.1 | 4.5 |
| Asian or Asian American | 2.5 | 2.7 | +0.2 | 3.0 |
NOTE: Although the BLS reports the national average for those 16 and over, the tables above include only those that are 18 and over to make a more accurate comparison to the veteran population. Post-9/11 are of the Gulf War Era II (September 2001-present). Other periods of service include Gulf War Era I (August 1990-August 2001), Vietnam Era (August 1964-April 1975), Korean War (July 1950-January 1955), World War II (December 1941-December 1946). Veterans who served in more than one wartime period are classified only in the most recent one. Veterans who served during one of the selected wartime periods and another peacetime period are classified only in the wartime period. The minority-by-gender unemployment rates are not displayed due to small sample size and are more appropriately displayed as annual averages.
[1] https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm