March 23, 2010
Low Employment Rate a Recurring Problem for Younger Veterans
So far, over 1.9 million Veterans have returned from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Many struggle with addiction, homelessness and mental health problems since returning home. Unemployment makes the transition to civilian life even harder.
The unemployment rate for Veterans of all ages from the recent wars was 10.2 percent in 2009. Younger Veterans have historically had a harder time finding jobs than their older counterparts, because they have had less time to acquire job experience and training.
Nationally, the employment rate was 9.3 percent last year, the highest since 1983.
“It’s a horrible environment because if you’re a reservist and you’re being deployed two or three times in a five-year period, you know you’re less competitive,” said Joseph Sharpe, director of the economic division at the American Legion. “Many companies that are already hurting are reluctant to hire you and time kind of moves on once you’re deployed.”
