Noteboom The Law Firm

No Jobs Available For Returning Veterans

August 11, 2010 - Veterans who have served in the military since 2001 are facing a new battle on U.S. soil. Having served their country, a high percentage of veterans are unable to find employment in the private sector.

The unemployment rate for the general population is 9.5%. The unemployment rate for all veterans is 8.4%. The unemployment rate for veterans who served in the military since 2001 was 11.8% in July, a rise from June's 11.5%. Veterans 25-29 years old are 39% of the total amount of unemployed veterans, and have an unemployment rate of 14.9%. The reason these veterans are experiencing a higher unemployment rate is because most of them:  

• Lack employment experience;
• Lack training;
• Are transitioning from the military to civilian life.

Jobs fitting veterans' skill sets are few and far between. Those that do fit are usually private contractors or security companies. Veterans, however, are finding that working for these companies means being deployed back to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Many veterans are also finding that they are being denied positions because PTSD is so prevalent among veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, so many employers just assume all veterans have it. Others are being told they are over-qualified for positions such as those in restaurants. With the sacrifices these veterans have made for this country, finding a job should not be more difficult than it is for the general population.