Overview
On June 6th, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that employment increased by 139,000 in May, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2 percent. Employment continued to trend up in health care, leisure and hospitality, and social assistance. Federal government continued to lose jobs.[1] For veterans, unemployment increased from 3.5 percent in April 2025 to 3.6 percent in May 2025. Post-9/11 veteran unemployment also increased, from 2.9 percent in April to 3.3 percent in May. The unemployment trend continues to vary across different veteran demographic groups.
In terms of age, the unemployment rate for veterans aged 18–24 increased from 7.4 percent in April to 9.3 percent in May. This rate remains slightly higher than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (9.2 percent). The unemployment rate for veterans aged 25–34 increased from 4.4 percent in April to 4.6 percent in May. This rate remains higher than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (3.8 percent). The unemployment rate for veterans aged 45–54 increased from 3.7 percent in April to 4.3 percent in May. This rate remains higher than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (2.9 percent). The unemployment rate for veterans aged 55–64 decreased from 3.3 percent in April to 3.0 percent in May. This rate remains higher than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (2.8 percent). The unemployment rate for veterans aged 65 and older decreased from 4.4 percent in April to 3.0 percent in May. Veterans in this age group had a higher unemployment rate than their nonveteran peers (2.8 percent).
The unemployment rate for female veterans decreased from 5.9 percent in April to 5.3 percent in May. This rate remains higher than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (3.8 percent). The unemployment rate for male veterans increased from 3.1 percent in April to 3.3 percent in May. This rate remains lower than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (4.0 percent).
The unemployment rate for Black or African American veterans decreased from 4.8 percent in April to 4.3 percent in May. This rate is lower than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (5.9 percent). The unemployment rate for Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin veterans increased from 2.9 percent in April to 3.5 percent in May. This rate is lower than the unemployment rate of 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 June 6, 2025. These are unpublished data from the Current Population Survey, not seasonally adjusted, and represent the period ending May 2025.
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR: | April 2025 | May 2025 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2024 |
| All Americans (18 and over) | 3.7 | 3.9 | +0.2 | 3.9 |
| All Veterans | 3.5 | 3.6 | +0.1 | 3.0 |
| Post-9/11 Veterans | 2.9 | 3.3 | +0.4 | 3.2 |
| Gulf-War I Era Veterans | 4.8 | 4.5 | -0.3 | 2.3 |
| WWII, Korean War and Vietnam Era | 4.7 | 2.7 | -2.0 | 3.4 |
| Other service period veterans | 2.9 | 3.3 | +0.4 | 2.8 |
| All Nonveterans | 3.7 | 3.9 | +0.2 | 3.9 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR VETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | April 2025 | May 2025 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2024 |
| 18–24 | 7.4 | 9.3 | +1.9 | 6.4 |
| 25-34 | 4.4 | 4.6 | +0.2 | 4.3 |
| 35-44 | 2.1 | 2.6 | +0.5 | 3.1 |
| 45-54 | 3.7 | 4.3 | +0.6 | 2.2 |
| 55-64 | 3.3 | 3.0 | -0.3 | 2.4 |
| 65 and older | 4.4 | 3.0 | -1.4 | 3.1 |
| Male | 3.1 | 3.3 | +0.2 | 2.9 |
| Female | 5.9 | 5.3 | -0.6 | 3.5 |
| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 3.3 | 3.6 | +0.3 | 2.8 |
| Black or African American | 4.8 | 4.3 | -0.5 | 3.6 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 2.9 | 3.5 | +0.6 | 3.5 |
| Asian or Asian American | – | – | – | 3.9 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR POST-9/11 VETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | April 2025 | May 2025 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2024 |
| 18–24 | 7.4 | 9.3 | +1.9 | 6.4 |
| 25-34 | 4.4 | 4.6 | +0.2 | 4.3 |
| 35-44 | 2.3 | 2.7 | +0.4 | 3.0 |
| 45-54 | 1.5 | 2.3 | +0.8 | 2.3 |
| 55-64 | 2.8 | 2.2 | -0.6 | 1.3 |
| 65 and older | – | 0.9 | – | 3.2 |
| Male | 2.0 | 2.6 | +0.6 | 3.1 |
| Female | 7.2 | 6.5 | -0.7 | 3.7 |
| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 2.5 | 2.9 | +0.4 | 2.9 |
| Black or African American | 4.6 | 6.3 | +1.7 | 4.3 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 2.6 | 3.4 | +0.8 | 3.6 |
| Asian or Asian American | – | – | – | 3.5 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR NONVETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | April 2025 | May 2025 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2024 |
| 18–24 | 8.0 | 9.2 | +1.2 | 8.4 |
| 25-34 | 3.9 | 3.8 | -0.1 | 4.3 |
| 35-44 | 3.0 | 3.1 | +0.1 | 3.2 |
| 45-54 | 2.8 | 2.9 | +0.1 | 2.8 |
| 55-64 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 2.8 |
| 65 and older | 2.9 | 2.8 | -0.1 | 3.1 |
| Male | 4.1 | 4.0 | -0.1 | 4.1 |
| Female | 3.3 | 3.8 | +0.5 | 3.8 |
| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 3.4 | 3.4 | 0.0 | 3.5 |
| Black or African American | 5.7 | 5.9 | +0.2 | 6.0 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 4.8 | 4.6 | -0.2 | 4.9 |
| Asian or Asian American | 2.8 | 3.5 | +0.7 | 3.4 |
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_06062025.pdf