Overview
On October 4th, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that employment increased by 254,000 in September, and the unemployment rate changed little at 4.1 percent. Employment continued to trend up in food services and drinking places, health care, government, social assistance, and construction.[1] For veterans, unemployment decreased from 3.5 percent in August to 2.7 percent in September 2024. Post-9/11 veteran unemployment also decreased from 3.5 percent in August to 2.5 percent in September. The unemployment trend continues to vary across different veteran demographic groups.
In terms of age, the unemployment rate for veterans aged 18-24 decreased from 5.9 percent in August to 5.5 percent in September. This rate remains lower than that of their nonveteran peers, who had an unemployment rate of 8.7 percent in September. The unemployment rate for veterans aged 25-34 decreased from 4.3 percent in August to 2.2 percent in September, remaining lower than that of their nonveteran peers, who had an unemployment rate of 3.9 percent in September. The unemployment rate for veterans aged 65 and older decreased from 4.2 percent in August to 3.2 percent in September. Veterans aged 65 and older were unemployed at a higher rate than their nonveteran peers, who had a rate of 2.5 percent in September.
For gender comparisons, the unemployment rate for female veterans decreased significantly from 7.0 percent in August to 4.3 percent in September, which is higher than the unemployment rate for female nonveterans (3.7 percent). The unemployment rate for male veterans decreased from 2.9 percent in August to 2.5 percent in September and remained lower than the rate for male nonveterans (3.8 percent).
The unemployment rate for Black or African American veterans decreased from 4.8 percent in August to 2.5 percent in September, which is lower than their nonveteran counterparts (5.5 percent). The unemployment rate for Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin veterans decreased from 5.6 percent in August to 4.7 percent in September, though it remained higher than their nonveteran counterparts (4.6 percent). 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 October 4, 2024. These are unpublished data from the Current Population Survey, not seasonally adjusted, and represent the period ending September 2024.
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR: | August 2024 | September 2024 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2023 |
| All Americans (18 and over) | 4.2 | 3.7 | -0.5 | 3.5 |
| All Veterans | 3.5 | 2.7 | -0.8 | 2.8 |
| Post-9/11 Veterans | 3.5 | 2.5 | -1.0 | 3.3 |
| Gulf-War I Era Veterans | 3.5 | 2.8 | -0.7 | 2.3 |
| WWII, Korean War and Vietnam Era | 4.6 | 2.6 | -2.0 | 2.5 |
| Other service period veterans | 2.9 | 3.1 | +0.2 | 2.4 |
| All Nonveterans | 4.3 | 3.8 | -0.5 | 3.6 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR VETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | August 2024 | September 2024 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2023 |
| 18–24 | 5.9 | 5.5 | -0.4 | 7.8 |
| 25-34 | 4.3 | 2.2 | -2.1 | 4.0 |
| 35-44 | 3.1 | 2.9 | -0.2 | 3.0 |
| 45-54 | 3.8 | 2.7 | -1.1 | 2.0 |
| 55-64 | 2.4 | 2.3 | -0.1 | 2.3 |
| 65 and older | 4.2 | 3.2 | -1.0 | 2.6 |
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| Male | 2.9 | 2.5 | -0.4 | 2.7 |
| Female | 7.0 | 4.3 | -2.7 | 3.2 |
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| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 3.3 | 2.8 | -0.5 | 2.7 |
| Black or African American | 4.8 | 2.5 | -2.3 | 3.3 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 5.6 | 4.7 | -0.9 | 2.9 |
| Asian or Asian American | 2.9 | 2.4 | -0.5 | 2.5 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR POST-9/11 VETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | August 2024 | September 2024 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2023 |
| 18–24 | 5.9 | 5.5 | -0.4 | 7.8 |
| 25-34 | 4.3 | 2.2 | -2.1 | 4.0 |
| 35-44 | 2.5 | 2.7 | +0.2 | 2.8 |
| 45-54 | 4.4 | 2.4 | -2.0 | 2.0 |
| 55-64 | 1.8 | – | – | 2.8 |
| 65 and older | 6.8 | 14.9 | +8.1 | 1.1 |
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| Male | 2.8 | 2.3 | -0.5 | 3.2 |
| Female | 7.0 | 3.6 | -3.4 | 3.4 |
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| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 2.9 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 3.2 |
| Black or African American | 6.9 | 1.0 | -5.9 | 4.3 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 4.2 | 3.8 | -0.4 | 3.8 |
| Asian or Asian American | – | – | – | 1.0 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR NONVETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | August 2024 | September 2024 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2023 |
| 18–24 | 9.3 | 8.7 | -0.6 | 7.5 |
| 25-34 | 4.7 | 3.9 | -0.8 | 3.9 |
| 35-44 | 3.6 | 3.3 | -0.3 | 2.8 |
| 45-54 | 2.8 | 2.5 | -0.3 | 2.5 |
| 55-64 | 3.1 | 2.7 | -0.4 | 2.6 |
| 65 and older | 3.2 | 2.5 | -0.7 | 2.8 |
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| Male | 4.1 | 3.8 | -0.3 | 3.8 |
| Female | 4.4 | 3.7 | -0.7 | 3.4 |
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| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 3.9 | 3.4 | -0.5 | 3.2 |
| Black or African American | 6.4 | 5.5 | -0.9 | 5.5 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 5.3 | 4.6 | -0.7 | 4.5 |
| Asian or Asian American | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 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/archives/empsit_10042024.pdf