Overview
On September 5th, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that employment changed little in August (+22,000) and has shown little change since April. The unemployment rate, at 4.3 percent, also changed little in August. Continuing job gains in health care were partially offset by losses in federal government and in mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction.[1] For veterans, unemployment increased from 3.0 percent in July 2025 to 3.1 percent in August 2025. Post-9/11 veteran unemployment decreased from 3.1 percent in July to 3.0 percent in August. 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 1.8 percent reported in June to 5.1 percent in August. This rate remains lower than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (10.3 percent). The unemployment rate for veterans aged 25–34 decreased from 3.5 percent in July to 3.3 percent in August. This rate remains lower than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (4.7 percent). The unemployment rate for veterans aged 35–44 increased from 3.7 percent in July to 4.7 percent in August. This rate remains higher than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (3.5 percent). The unemployment rate for veterans aged 45–54 did not change from July to August staying at 1.7 percent. This rate remains lower than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (3.1 percent). The unemployment rate for veterans aged 55–64 decreased from 2.9 percent in July to 1.6 percent in August. This rate remains lower than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (2.7 percent). The unemployment rate for veterans aged 65 and older increased from 3.5 percent in July to 4.9 percent in August. Veterans in this age group had a higher unemployment rate than their nonveteran peers (4.0 percent).
The unemployment rate for female veterans remained unchanged at 4.4 percent in July and August. This rate remains lower than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (4.6 percent). The unemployment rate for male veterans increased from 2.7 percent in July to 2.9 percent in August. This rate remains lower than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (4.3 percent).
The unemployment rate for Black or African American veterans increased from 3.7 percent in July to 3.9 percent in August. This rate is lower than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (7.9 percent). The unemployment rate for Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin veterans increased from 2.2 percent in July to 2.9 percent in August. This rate is lower than the unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts (5.4 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 September 5, 2025. These are unpublished data from the Current Population Survey, not seasonally adjusted, and represent the period ending August 2025.
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR: | July 2025 | August 2025 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2024 |
| All Americans (18 and over) | 4.4 | 4.4 | 0.0 | 3.9 |
| All Veterans | 3.0 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 3.0 |
| Post-9/11 Veterans | 3.1 | 3.0 | -0.1 | 3.2 |
| Gulf-War I Era Veterans | 1.5 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 2.3 |
| WWII, Korean War and Vietnam Era | 5.3 | 8.0 | 2.7 | 3.4 |
| Other service period veterans | 3.8 | 2.6 | -1.2 | 2.8 |
| All Nonveterans | 4.4 | 4.4 | 0.0 | 3.9 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR VETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | July 2025 | August 2025 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2024 |
| 18–24 | 1.8 | 5.1 | 3.3 | 6.4 |
| 25-34 | 3.5 | 3.3 | -0.2 | 4.3 |
| 35-44 | 3.7 | 4.7 | 1.0 | 3.1 |
| 45-54 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 2.2 |
| 55-64 | 2.9 | 1.6 | -1.3 | 2.4 |
| 65 and older | 3.5 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 3.1 |
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| Male | 2.7 | 2.9 | 0.2 | 2.9 |
| Female | 4.4 | 4.4 | 0.0 | 3.5 |
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| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 3.0 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 2.8 |
| Black or African American | 3.7 | 3.9 | 0.2 | 3.6 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 2.2 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 3.5 |
| Asian or Asian American | – | – | – | 3.9 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR POST-9/11 VETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | July 2025 | August 2025 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2024 |
| 18–24 | 1.8 | 5.1 | 3.3 | 6.4 |
| 25-34 | 3.5 | 3.3 | -0.2 | 4.3 |
| 35-44 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 0.5 | 3.0 |
| 45-54 | 1.3 | 0.3 | -1.0 | 2.3 |
| 55-64 | 3.6 | 1.2 | -2.4 | 1.3 |
| 65 and older | – | – | – | 3.2 |
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| Male | 2.7 | 2.9 | 0.2 | 3.1 |
| Female | 4.9 | 3.1 | -1.8 | 3.7 |
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| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 2.8 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 2.9 |
| Black or African American | 5.2 | 3.9 | -1.3 | 4.3 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 1.6 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 3.6 |
| Asian or Asian American | – | – | – | 3.5 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR NONVETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | July 2025 | August 2025 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2024 |
| 18–24 | 10.0 | 10.3 | 0.3 | 8.4 |
| 25-34 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 0.2 | 4.3 |
| 35-44 | 3.6 | 3.5 | -0.1 | 3.2 |
| 45-54 | 3.2 | 3.1 | -0.1 | 2.8 |
| 55-64 | 3.0 | 2.7 | -0.3 | 2.8 |
| 65 and older | 3.2 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 3.1 |
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| Male | 4.3 | 4.3 | 0.0 | 4.1 |
| Female | 4.6 | 4.6 | 0.0 | 3.8 |
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| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 3.8 | 3.8 | 0.0 | 3.5 |
| Black or African American | 7.9 | 7.9 | 0.0 | 6.0 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 4.9 | 5.4 | 0.5 | 4.9 |
| Asian or Asian American | 4.1 | 3.6 | -0.5 | 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_09052025.pdf