Unemployment rate for young veterans hits 21.1 percent

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Washington Post

Unemployment rate for young veterans hits 21.1 percent
Saturday, March 13, 2010

Jobless rate at 21.1% for ages 18 to 24

The unemployment rate last year for young veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars hit 21.1 percent, the Labor Department said Friday, reflecting a tough obstacle that combat veterans face as they make the transition home from war.

The number was well above the 16.6 percent jobless rate for non-veterans of the same ages, 18 to 24. It was significantly higher than the 2008 unemployment rate among veterans in that age group: 14.1 percent.

Many of the unemployed are members of the National Guard and reserves who have deployed multiple times, said Joseph Sharpe, director of the economic division at the American Legion. Sharpe said some come home to find their jobs have been eliminated because the company has downsized. Other companies might not want to hire someone who could deploy again or will have medical appointments because of war-related health problems, he said.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/12/AR2010031204123.html?wprss=rss_world

[Mind_your_head]

1. Jobless rate for those who are now currently graduating from college

are probably similar.

The POINT being, that it doesn't matter what 'track' you took (the military or college) to get some experience/education. JOBS. There aren't enough JOBS out there for people.....any/most people in the US today.

That.Is.The.Problem

[maryf]

2. and 30% of all homeless are veterans...

K&R

[Roland99]

3. Wonder how much longer before Americans start emigrating to find the jobs that used to be here?

Move to Mexico or Costa Rico or Honduras or India or China.

I, for one, am SO glad NAFTA passed and that manufacturing jobs have been in the negative every month for, what, 3 years straight now?

SO glad I can find a roll of paper towels or a jar of pickles at WalMart so much cheaper than a smaller store so that my money can go to feed an underpaid worker in China or someplace.

[The Wizard]

4. One of the problems veterans experienced

upon returning from Vietnam was employers were reluctant to hire possible time bombs. This country is lucky many of us chose to self medicate after returning. Otherwise, there may have been bodies stacked up like cord wood. Many of us were seriously angry with a knowledge and propensity for violent eradication of real or perceived threats.
Anyone foolish enough to spit at me and other returning veterans would have been dispatched with extreme prejudice.
Time, age and the Veterans Administration Hospitals have ameliorated that edge for most of us.
If you know any returning veterans who seem distant or easily agitated urge them to get into the closest VA facility for treatment and not accept the excuse that they don't have any openings. A call to a Congressman's office can open many doors at the VA.
The VA also provides a vocational rehabilitation program that will try to place them in appropriate jobs or get the necessary education and/or training to reestablish themselves in the work force.

[bamacrat]

5. Not surprising since they will take anyone with a GED.

I mean it used to be that the Army prepared you better for entry into the civilian world now it keeps you uneducated and mentally stunts you so when you get out the only thing you can do it be a cop or work construction. One is paid for by tax dollars the other is linked to the housing market so its rough for them. Sad really they convince many of these kids that if the come straight out of high school they will prepare them for an exciting career once they get out or help them pay for college. Then they don't.

[fatbuckel]

6. Unemployment rate for young veterans

Now, I`m not anti-American or anti-military or anything like that but you have to figure in the fact that a certain percentage of people in the military went to the military because they could`nt get jobs in the private sector.Now that they are back,there is only so many Walmart jobs to go around.

[midnight]

7. I wonder how these vets who sacrificed so much feel to know why they were away

on foreign soil, Wall street and AIG attacked tax payers? I wonder how they feel about a recovery that uses the term "jobless" I wonder how they feel about a society were the markets have been usurped by one big guy who owns everything, and that there is no competition? I wonder what they think about our bravest, young people coming back to this state of despair? I bet they feel hoodwinked.