
March 2021
Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that employment rose by 916,000 in March, and the unemployment rate edged down to 6.0 percent. Job growth was widespread in March, led by gains in leisure and hospitality, public and private education, and construction. For veterans, unemployment decreased to 5.0 in March. Post-9/11 veteran unemployment increased from 5.9 percent to 6.1 percent in March. Of the total 452,000 unemployed veterans ages 18 and over, 17 percent have been unemployed for less than five weeks and 83 percent have been unemployed for more than five weeks. The average length of unemployment is 31.7 weeks (the median is 19.5 weeks). The overall unemployment trend varies by different veteran demographic factors, however, some more than others.