Veteran Unemployment Decline Reflects Improving Job Market for Military Service Members, According to Disabled Veterans National Foundation

WASHINGTON, July 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Disabled Veterans National Foundation (www.dvnf.org), a non-profit veterans service organization that focuses on helping men and women who serve and return home wounded or sick after defending our safety and our freedom, was pleased to see the recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report for the month of June. The report showed a steady decrease in the overall unemployment numbers for veterans.

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The June BLS report showed that overall unemployment for veterans decreased from 6.6 percent in May, to 6.3 percent in June. That number remains much lower than the national average of 7.6 percent. The unemployment rate has dropped more than a percentage point since June 2012, signaling a vastly improved job market.

Unemployment rates for Gulf War II-Era veterans also dropped slightly, to 7.2 percent from the May number of 7.3. However, the percentage of jobless Gulf War II-Era veterans has shown a drastic decline in unemployment since June of 2012, which was an astounding 9.5 percent.

Many factors can be attributed to the decline in unemployment. An improving overall job market is certainly one major factor, as the national jobless rate in June of 2012 hovered over 8 percent. Other contributing factors are VA initiatives to help veterans transition to civilian life, such as the Veterans Retraining and Assistance Program (VRAP) and the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

In addition to VA programs, the White House and U.S. Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to put on the Hiring Our Heroes program, with hiring fairs all throughout the country. Similarly, countless nonprofit groups and large companies have also made strides to take part in the effort, offering training programs and job placement for veterans.

"We are very pleased with the progress we have made in helping veterans get jobs," said DVNF President, Precilla Wilkewitz. "Transition to civilian life is difficult enough, especially after serving in combat. It is our hope that this decline in unemployment continues so that our veterans don't have to face the devastation of homelessness after their military service has concluded."

DVNF plans to launch its next veterans employment webinar in August, and encourages any veteran who is looking for work to participate in these free online sessions.

For more, go to www.dvnf.org.

Media Contact:

Disabled Veterans National Foundation, Doug Walker, Communications Manager, 202-737-0522  Email

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SOURCE Disabled Veterans National Foundation