Overview
Today, September 3rd, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported employment rose by 235,000 in August, and the unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage point to 5.2 percent. So far this year, monthly job growth has averaged 586,000. In August, notable job gains occurred in professional and business services, transportation and warehousing, private education, manufacturing, and other services. Employment in retail trade declined over the month.[1] For veterans, unemployment decreased to 3.6 percent in August. Post-9/11 veteran unemployment decreased from 4.1 percent to 3.1 percent in August. Of the total 303,000 unemployed veterans ages 18 and over, 19 percent have been unemployed for less than five weeks and 81 percent have been unemployed for more than five weeks. The average length of unemployment is 34.0 weeks (the median is 17.4 weeks). The overall unemployment trend varies by different veteran demographic factors, however, some more than others.
With respect to age, the unemployment rate for veterans ages 18-24 decreased in August, from 3.9 percent to 3.6 percent. The unemployment rate for veterans ages 25-34 also decreased from 4.9 percent to 3.1 percent. During this period, both veterans ages 18-24 and 25-34 were unemployed at a lower rate than their nonveteran peers of the same age group (9.5 percent and 5.9 percent respectively). The unemployment rate for veterans ages 65 and older decreased in August, from 5.1 percent to 4.2 percent. Veterans ages 65 and older were unemployed at a lower rate than their nonveteran peers of the same age group in August (4.7 percent).
Female veterans experienced an increase in unemployment in August, from 2.9 percent to 3.2 percent. By comparison, female nonveterans have an unemployment rate of 5.4 percent. Male veterans experienced a decrease in unemployment in August, from 4.1 percent to 3.6 percent. By comparison, male nonveterans have an unemployment rate of 5.2 percent.
Black or African American veterans saw a monthly increase in unemployment to 4.5 percent. This rate is lower than the 9.2 percent unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts. Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin veterans experienced a monthly increase in unemployment to 6.4 percent. This rate is higher than the 6.0 percent unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts. Readers should be cautioned, however, that data on specific veteran subgroups can vary widely from month to month.
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Demographics & Trends
The following tables summarize the employment situation of veterans in America based on BLS data released on September 3, 2021. These are unpublished data from the Current Population Survey, not seasonally adjusted, and represent the period ending August 2021.
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR: | July 2021 | August 2021 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2020 |
| All Americans (18 and over) | 5.5 | 5.2 | -0.3 | 7.9 |
| All Veterans | 4.0 | 3.6 | -0.4 | 6.5 |
| Post-9/11 Veterans | 4.1 | 3.1 | -1.0 | 7.3 |
| Gulf-War I Era Veterans | 3.2 | 3.3 | +0.1 | 4.8 |
| WWII, Korean War and Vietnam Era | 5.9 | 4.2 | -1.7 | 6.7 |
| All Nonveterans | 5.6 | 5.3 | -0.3 | 8.0 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR VETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | July 2021 | August 2021 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2020 |
| 18–24 | 3.9 | 3.6 | -0.3 | 14.6 |
| 25-34 | 4.9 | 3.1 | -1.8 | 8.8 |
| 35-44 | 4.7 | 4.8 | +0.1 | 5.8 |
| 45-54 | 2.4 | 2.8 | +0.4 | 5.0 |
| 55-64 | 3.7 | 3.3 | -0.4 | 6.5 |
| 65 and older | 5.1 | 4.2 | -0.9 | 6.4 |
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| Male | 4.1 | 3.6 | -0.5 | 6.5 |
| Female | 2.9 | 3.2 | +0.3 | 6.7 |
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| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 4.1 | 3.4 | -0.7 | 6.1 |
| Black or African American | 3.8 | 4.5 | +0.7 | 7.5 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 5.0 | 6.4 | +1.4 | 7.4 |
| Asian or Asian American | – | 2.8 | – | 5.1 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR POST-9/11 VETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | July 2021 | August 2021 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2020 |
| 18–24 | 3.9 | 3.6 | -0.3 | 14.6 |
| 25-34 | 4.9 | 3.1 | -1.8 | 8.8 |
| 35-44 | 4.3 | 4.8 | +0.5 | 5.9 |
| 45-54 | 3.0 | 0.7 | -2.3 | 5.4 |
| 55-64 | 1.8 | 0.2 | -1.6 | 5.2 |
| 65 and older | 7.6 | 6.5 | -1.1 | 12.5 |
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| Male | 4.3 | 3.3 | -1.0 | 7.4 |
| Female | 2.9 | 2.1 | -0.8 | 7.2 |
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| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 4.4 | 3.5 | -0.9 | 7.0 |
| Black or African American | 2.5 | 0.2 | -2.3 | 6.8 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 5.0 | 5.2 | +0.2 | 8.7 |
| Asian or Asian American | – | 5.6 | – | 6.7 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR NONVETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | July 2021 | August 2021 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2020 |
| 18–24 | 9.7 | 9.5 | -0.2 | 14.6 |
| 25-34 | 6.3 | 5.9 | -0.4 | 8.4 |
| 35-44 | 4.8 | 4.4 | -0.4 | 6.4 |
| 45-54 | 4.1 | 4.3 | +0.2 | 6.4 |
| 55-64 | 4.4 | 3.9 | -0.5 | 6.8 |
| 65 and older | 5.2 | 4.7 | -0.5 | 7.6 |
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| Male | 5.6 | 5.2 | -0.4 | 7.8 |
| Female | 5.7 | 5.4 | -0.3 | 8.2 |
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| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 5.0 | 4.6 | -0.4 | 7.2 |
| Black or African American | 8.9 | 9.2 | +0.3 | 11.5 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 6.5 | 6.0 | -0.5 | 10.4 |
| Asian or Asian American | 5.4 | 4.6 | -0.8 | 8.7 |
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