Overview
Today, December 3rd, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported employment rose by 210,000 in November, and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage point to 4.2 percent. Notable job gains occurred in professional and business services, transportation and warehousing, construction, and manufacturing. Employment in retail trade declined over the month.[1] For veterans, unemployment stayed at 3.9 percent in November. Post-9/11 veteran unemployment increased from 3.8 percent to 4.3 percent in November. Of the total 327,000 unemployed veterans ages 18 and over, 34 percent have been unemployed for less than five weeks and 66 percent have been unemployed for more than five weeks. The average length of unemployment is 28.9 (the median is 10.3 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 November, from 5.5 percent to 3.9 percent. The unemployment rate for veterans ages 25-34 decreased from 6.7 percent to 5.5 percent. During this period, veterans ages 18-24 were unemployed at a lower rate than their nonveteran peers of the same age group (7.5 percent) while veterans 25-34 were unemployed at a higher rate than their nonveteran peers of the same age group (3.7 percent). The unemployment rate for veterans ages 65 and older increased in November, from 3.3 percent to 4.2 percent. Veterans ages 65 and older were unemployed at a higher rate than their nonveteran peers of the same age group in October (3.0 percent).
Female veterans experienced a decrease in unemployment in November, from 5.1 percent to 4.0 percent. By comparison, female nonveterans have an unemployment rate of 3.8 percent. Male veterans unemployment increased in November to 3.9 percent. By comparison, male nonveterans have an unemployment rate of 3.8 percent.
Black or African American veterans saw a monthly decrease in unemployment to 2.1 percent. This rate is lower than the 6.1 percent unemployment rate of their nonveteran counterparts. Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin veterans experienced a monthly decrease in unemployment to 6.3 percent. This rate is higher than the 4.6 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.
Demographics & Trends
The following tables summarize the employment situation of veterans in America based on BLS data released on December 3, 2021. These are unpublished data from the Current Population Survey, not seasonally adjusted, and represent the period ending November 2021.
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR: | October 2021 | November 2021 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2020 |
| All Americans (18 and over) | 4.2 | 3.8 | –0.4 | 7.9 |
| All Veterans | 3.9 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 6.5 |
| Post-9/11 Veterans | 3.8 | 4.3 | +0.5 | 7.3 |
| Gulf-War I Era Veterans | 4.1 | 2.7 | -1.4 | 4.8 |
| WWII, Korean War and Vietnam Era | 4.0 | 4.5 | +0.5 | 6.7 |
| All Nonveterans | 4.2 | 3.8 | -0.4 | 8.0 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR VETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | October 2021 | November 2021 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2020 |
| 18–24 | 5.5 | 3.9 | -1.6 | 14.6 |
| 25-34 | 6.7 | 5.5 | -1.2 | 8.8 |
| 35-44 | 3.8 | 5.4 | +1.6 | 5.8 |
| 45-54 | 3.4 | 2.4 | -1.0 | 5.0 |
| 55-64 | 2.9 | 2.8 | -0.1 | 6.5 |
| 65 and older | 3.3 | 4.2 | +0.9 | 6.4 |
| Male | 3.7 | 3.9 | +0.2 | 6.5 |
| Female | 5.1 | 4.0 | -1.1 | 6.7 |
| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 3.5 | 3.8 | +0.3 | 6.1 |
| Black or African American | 4.3 | 2.1 | -2.2 | 7.5 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 7.8 | 6.3 | -1.5 | 7.4 |
| Asian or Asian American | 4.6 | 8.2 | +3.6 | 5.1 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR POST-9/11 VETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | October 2021 | November 2021 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2020 |
| 18–24 | 5.5 | 3.9 | -1.6 | 14.6 |
| 25-34 | 6.7 | 5.5 | -1.2 | 8.8 |
| 35-44 | 2.9 | 4.2 | +1.3 | 5.9 |
| 45-54 | 0.7 | 3.9 | +3.2 | 5.4 |
| 55-64 | 0.4 | 1.7 | +1.3 | 5.2 |
| 65 and older | – | – | – | 12.5 |
| Male | 3.5 | 4.5 | +1.0 | 7.4 |
| Female | 5.5 | 3.6 | -1.9 | 7.2 |
| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 3.8 | 4.4 | +0.6 | 7.0 |
| Black or African American | 2.8 | 3.5 | +0.7 | 6.8 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 6.9 | 6.8 | -0.1 | 8.7 |
| Asian or Asian American | 8.8 | 10.7 | +1.9 | 6.7 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR NONVETERANS | ||||
| Demographic Category | October 2021 | November 2021 | CHANGE (+/-) | Annual Averages 2020 |
| 18–24 | 8.0 | 7.5 | -0.5 | 14.6 |
| 25-34 | 4.4 | 3.7 | -0.7 | 8.4 |
| 35-44 | 3.6 | 3.5 | -0.1 | 6.4 |
| 45-54 | 3.5 | 2.8 | -0.7 | 6.4 |
| 55-64 | 3.2 | 3.1 | -0.1 | 6.8 |
| 65 and older | 3.7 | 3.0 | -0.7 | 7.6 |
| ————————————– | ————————————– | ————————————– | ————————————– | ————————————– |
| Male | 4.1 | 3.8 | -0.3 | 7.8 |
| Female | 4.3 | 3.8 | -0.5 | 8.2 |
| ————————————– | ————————————– | ————————————– | ————————————– | ————————————– |
| White, Anglo, Caucasian | 3.6 | 3.3 | -0.3 | 7.2 |
| Black or African American | 7.7 | 6.1 | -1.6 | 11.5 |
| Hispanic, Latino/a, or Spanish Origin | 5.1 | 4.6 | -0.5 | 10.4 |
| Asian or Asian American | 4.1 | 3.7 | -0.4 | 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