Overview
On November 20th, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that employment edged up by 119,000 in September but has shown little change since April. The unemployment rate, at 4.4 percent, changed little in September. Employment continued to trend up in health care, food services and drinking places, and social assistance. Job losses occurred in transportation and warehousing andin federal government.[1] Among veterans, unemployment decreased from 3.1 percent in August 2025 to 2.6 percent in September 2025. Post-9/11 veteran unemployment also declined, moving from 3.0 percent in August to 2.4 percent in September. The unemployment trend continues to vary across different veteran demographic groups.
Across age groups, unemployment among veterans varies. For veterans in the 18–24 age group, the unemployment rate decreased from 5.1 percent in August to 1.1 percent in September, remaining lower than the nonveteran rate of 10.1 percent. Among those aged 25–34, unemployment decreased slightly from 3.3 percent to 3.2 percent, remaining lower than the nonveteran rate (4.6 percent). For veterans aged 35–44, unemployment decreased from 4.7 percent to 2.6 percent, which is lower than the nonveteran rate (3.2 percent). Among veterans aged 45–54, unemployment increased from 1.7 percent to 2.5 percent, but remains lower than the nonveteran rate (2.7 percent). For those aged 55–64, unemployment increased from 1.6 percent to 2.1 percent, remaining lower than the nonveteran rate (3.0 percent). Among veterans aged 65 and older, unemployment decreased from 4.9 percent to 3.3 percent, which is the same as the nonveteran rate (3.3 percent).
The unemployment rate for female veterans increased from 4.4 percent in August to 4.6 percent in September, which is higher than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (4.3 percent). The unemployment rate for male veterans decreased frm 2.9 percent in August to 2.3 percent in September. This rate remains lower than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (4.2 percent).
The unemployment rate for Black or African American veterans increased from 3.9 percent in August to 4.0 percent in September. This rate remains lower than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (7.3 percent). The unemployment rate for Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin veterans increased from 2.9 percent in August to 6.1 percent in September, which is higher than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (5.1 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 November 20, 2025. These are unpublished data from the Current Population Survey, not seasonally adjusted, and represent the period ending September 2025.
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR: | August 2025 | September 2025 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2024 |
| All Americans (18 and over) | 4.4 | 4.2 | -0.2 | 3.9 |
| All Veterans | 3.1 | 2.6 | -0.5 | 3.0 |
| Post-9/11 Veterans | 3.0 | 2.4 | -0.6 | 3.2 |
| Gulf-War I Era Veterans | 2.4 | 2.1 | -0.3 | 2.3 |
| WWII, Korean War and Vietnam Era | 8.0 | 2.1 | -5.9 | 3.4 |
| Other service period veterans | 2.6 | 4.4 | +1.8 | 2.8 |
| All Nonveterans | 4.4 | 4.2 | -0.2 | 3.9 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR VETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | August 2025 | September 2025 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2024 |
| 18–24 | 5.1 | 1.1 | -4.0 | 6.4 |
| 25-34 | 3.3 | 3.2 | -0.1 | 4.3 |
| 35-44 | 4.7 | 2.6 | -2.1 | 3.1 |
| 45-54 | 1.7 | 2.5 | +0.8 | 2.2 |
| 55-64 | 1.6 | 2.1 | +0.5 | 2.4 |
| 65 and older | 4.9 | 3.3 | -1.6 | 3.1 |
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| Male | 2.9 | 2.3 | -0.6 | 2.9 |
| Female | 4.4 | 4.6 | +0.2 | 3.5 |
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| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 3.2 | 2.2 | -1.0 | 2.8 |
| Black or African American | 3.9 | 4.0 | +0.1 | 3.6 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 2.9 | 6.1 | +3.2 | 3.5 |
| Asian or Asian American | – | 5.8 | – | 3.9 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR POST-9/11 VETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | August 2025 | September 2025 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2024 |
| 18–24 | 5.1 | 1.1 | -4.0 | 6.4 |
| 25-34 | 3.3 | 3.2 | -0.1 | 4.3 |
| 35-44 | 4.4 | 2.5 | -1.9 | 3.0 |
| 45-54 | 0.3 | 2.6 | +2.3 | 2.3 |
| 55-64 | 1.2 | 0.4 | -0.8 | 1.3 |
| 65 and older | – | 0.8 | – | 3.2 |
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| Male | 2.9 | 2.1 | -0.8 | 3.1 |
| Female | 3.1 | 4.1 | +1.0 | 3.7 |
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| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 3.0 | 1.9 | -1.1 | 2.9 |
| Black or African American | 3.9 | 4.3 | +0.4 | 4.3 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 2.6 | 7.9 | +5.3 | 3.6 |
| Asian or Asian American | – | 6.0 | – | 3.5 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR NONVETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | August 2025 | September 2025 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2024 |
| 18–24 | 10.3 | 10.1 | -0.2 | 8.4 |
| 25-34 | 4.7 | 4.6 | -0.1 | 4.3 |
| 35-44 | 3.5 | 3.2 | -0.3 | 3.2 |
| 45-54 | 3.1 | 2.7 | -0.4 | 2.8 |
| 55-64 | 2.7 | 3.0 | +0.3 | 2.8 |
| 65 and older | 4.0 | 3.3 | -0.7 | 3.1 |
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| Male | 4.3 | 4.2 | -0.1 | 4.1 |
| Female | 4.6 | 4.3 | -0.3 | 3.8 |
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| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 3.8 | 3.6 | -0.2 | 3.5 |
| Black or African American | 7.9 | 7.3 | -0.6 | 6.0 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 5.4 | 5.1 | -0.3 | 4.9 |
| Asian or Asian American | 3.6 | 4.4 | +0.8 | 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_11202025.pdf