Joblessness hits male vets of current wars

Since December, the rates have been reported a lot higher for young veterans and how they return without jobs. Some can't find work because of the economy. Some can't work because of what combat hit them with. Whatever the reason, it seems as if they do not just suffer when they are risking their lives. They suffer after because they risked their lives.

Saturday, December 12, 2009
Unemployment for young vets surpasses 20%

Friday, March 12, 2010
Young Iraq and Afghanistan veterans hit 21.1 percent unemployed

Friday, April 2, 2010
One in three young vets now unemployed

One in three young vets now unemployed

By Rick Maze - Staff writer

Posted : Friday Apr 2, 2010 15:12:51 EDT
Disturbing new statistics from the Labor Department show that one in three veterans under age 24 is unemployed — and that the unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans has jumped to 14.7 percent, half again as high as the national employment rate of 9.7 percent.The March unemployment rate of 30.2 percent for veterans aged 18 to 24 is a big jump from February’s figure of 21.7 percent, although it may be partly the result of a small sample used by the Labor Department in determining unemployment, said Justin Brown, a labor expert for Veterans of Foreign Wars. (Click links above for the rest of these.)

Joblessness hits male vets of current wars

By Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Unemployment for male Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans has tripled since the recession began, rising from 5% in March 2007 to 15% last month, Labor Department statistics show.

More than 250,000 of these veterans were unemployed last month. An additional 400,000 have left the workforce to attend college or raise children, or because they have stopped trying to find a job, Labor Department economist Jim Walker says. The overall national unemployment rate is 9.7%.

"It makes you almost want to go out and rip off all the 'Support Your Troops' bumper stickers," says Joe Davis, a spokesman for the 1.5-million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars. "If you want to support your troops, give them a job."


Reasons behind the joblessness:

•Veterans are having a difficult time translating military skills — initiative, leadership and coolness under pressure — into job-application language that civilian employers can grasp, says Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. She has been meeting with unemployed veterans while on recess from Congress.

"These guys are disciplined. They're great workers, and we should be getting them jobs," says Murray, who is sponsoring legislation to improve résumé training, expand the G.I. Bill to include apprenticeship programs and assist veterans starting small businesses.
read more here
http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2010-04-06-vets_N.htm