Veterans ages 18 to 54 had similar, or slightly lower, rates of unemployment than their civilian counterparts from 2000-2013, but older veterans were more likely than their peers to be unemployed, according to a new report by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The report also shows that the majority of veterans who were unemployed – 60 percent – were 45 and older, and that nearly a third were veterans who served after 2001. The unemployment rate for that latest generation of veterans fell to 5.7 percent in November – down from 9.9 percent a year ago.
The newest women veterans face a higher unemployment rate than men: 8.1 percent, compared to 5.3 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The unemployment rate for the U.S. as a whole was 5.8 percent in November.
Connecticut, like other states, has taken steps to match veterans with jobs. Recently, the state announced that it was expanding a pilot program connecting Waterbury-area veterans and their families with employment and social services, into Bridgeport. State officials said the Waterbury-area program had increased the number of veterans and military service members participating in employment services and medical, food and financial assistance benefits.
Veterans and military members can request an appointment with a state Department of Labor veterans’ specialist, sign up for social services, or obtain information about employment programs and workshops. Employment services include the Subsidized Training and Employment Program for veterans, known as the “Step Up for Vets” program, in which employers may be eligible to receive a wage subsidy up to $12,000 when hiring an unemployed veteran.
Labor Commissioner Sharon Palmer said 22 employers have taken part in Step Up for Vets, providing jobs to 39 unemployed veterans. An additional six veterans who completed the Advanced Manufacturing Technology program at Naugatuck Valley Community College also have started new jobs.
More information is available here.