Joining Forces Blog

Veteran Unemployment Continues to Decline, Lowest Rate in Five Years

Posted by Yvonne Levardi on January 13, 2014 at 5:52 PM EST

Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released Veteran unemployment data for the month of December.

The unemployment rate for all Veterans was 5.5 percent last month—a decrease from 6.7 percent in November and more than a point below the national average of 6.7 percent. This is the lowest Veteran unemployment has been in five years.

For post-9/11 Veterans, the rate dropped to 7.3 percent in December, compared to 9.9 percent in November – but a when compared to 10.8 percent in December 2012 it’s even more significant.

In short, more Veterans are getting hired due to a national focus on hiring Veterans. That is good news, but there is still much more to do to ensure Veterans continue to find meaningful employment. We often send out information on Twitter or Facebook highlighting programs or opportunities for Veteran employment, and as a Veteran I find it gratifying to see the country working to help get our Vets back on their feet in so many ways. From the tech industry, to Red Cross-hosted job fairs, to training in the food service industry, Operation Good Jobs to the National Cemetery Administration’s training program for homeless Veterans, the efforts to combat Veteran unemployment continue to put our Vets to work.

Included below are graphs to illustrate the unemployment rate for all Veterans and post 9-11-Veterans. Below, you can see the monthly unemployment rate for all Veterans since January 2010. The long-term trend shows a clear decrease.

Because chunks of data are often better indicators of real movement, another way to view the trend is by looking at the moving (or rolling) average. The chart below captures 12-month averages for the periods ending each month since January 2010. What it shows is a modest decline in the unemployment rate of Veterans over the long term. The current 12-month average unemployment rate for all Veterans stands at 6.57 percent—a modest drop since November and the lowest 12-month average unemployment rate since 2009.

This matters because the moving 12-month average is a far more conservative measure than the month-to-month data. When we see movement in the rolling average, we are confident that there is real movement in the unemployment rate.

For post-9/11 (or Gulf War II-era) Veterans, the monthly unemployment rate dropped to 7.3 percent in December from 9.9 percent in November. The chart below shows the rates since January 2010.

Because the month-to-month figures for this demographic are volatile, the longer term trend is a more reliable measure that continues to show a consistent decline for over three years. The 12-month moving average slightly dropped from 9.23 to 8.94 percent, and in the below graph, you can see the overall decline in the rate since January 2010.

These stats are encouraging. Even though in certain demographic groups we still see a higher unemployment rate than the national average, there is a clear overall decline in unemployment. That being said, we know there’s still more work to be done. VA is working daily to help remedy that through collaboration with the White House and the Chamber of Commerce “Hiring our Heroes” program, and in encouraging businesses to consider hiring veterans.

Efforts in this area also tie into our focus on increasing access to Veteran benefits and combating Veteran homelessness. By making Veterans aware of their benefits – in this case the educational and training benefits – we’re increasing access and helping to put Veterans on the path towards meaningful employment and a successful career. And Veterans who are trained and employed have the resources to get off the streets.

I know the value of these programs, training and the importance of employment to one’s self-confidence. My coworkers – many of them Veterans themselves – also know this, and VA’s entire team is committed to helping those who have served us. Our work will continue to help our Veterans.

Find more information about education and training opportunities, vocational rehabilitation, and the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program on the VA website.

Yvonne Levardi serves on the Digital Media Engagement team at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Phoenix Reduces its Population of Chronically Homeless Veterans to Zero

Posted by Commander Cara LaPointe, U.S Navy on December 23, 2013 at 10:55 AM EST

Last week, Phoenix, Arizona became the first city to reduce the number of chronically homeless veterans living in the city to zero. There is more work to be done to eliminate overall veteran homelessness, but this achievement is a significant milestone for the nationwide push to end veteran homelessness by the end of 2015.

In 2009, President Obama, along with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, made it a top priority to support veterans who lack safe, secure housing. With the help of supporters and cities across the country, they have reduced veteran homelessness by 24 percent since 2010 and are on track to hit their overall goal of ending veteran homelessness by 2015.

Joining Forces congratulates Phoenix, Arizona and Mayor Stanton for their accelerated efforts and for their investments in ending chronic homelessness. As other cities, such as Salt Lake City and Philadelphia, accelerate toward eradicating veteran homelessness, we hope that mayors and cities across the country will follow the outstanding example set by Phoenix and join in on this important effort.

As the First Lady has said, “We need to uphold the dignity and rights of every veteran. And that starts by keeping up our campaign to end homelessness among veterans.”

From the national level to each individual citizen, we can all do something to meet the needs of our veterans. They stepped up to defend and protect our freedoms, now it’s our turn serve them.

Click here to learn about getting involved in the fight to end veteran homelessness.

Commander Cara LaPointeis a White House Fellow in the Office of the First Lady.
Top Five Ways to Honor Our Military Communities this Holiday Season

Posted by Colonel Rich Morales on December 22, 2013 at 11:28 AM EST

1. Volunteer in your local community

First Lady Michelle Obama sorts toys after she delivers toys and gifts donated by White House staff to the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots Campaign at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., Dec. 16, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Volunteering in your local community in honor of our military service members, veterans and their families is a great way to show your support and appreciation. There are many ways to get involved in your local community; you can volunteer with a local organization or start a volunteer project.

2. Pledge hours of community service for Blue Star Families

Take a moment to pledge hours of community service for Blue Star Families in honor of our military communities.

3. Lay a wreath to honor the fallen

Download Video: mp4 (55MB) | mp3 (5MB)

Pay respect and honor to those who fought to protect our freedoms by laying a wreath on the tomb of a fallen soldier.

4. Send a message of thanks

A message written by First Lady is seen on a U.S. Marine Corps flag at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., April 4, 2012.

As we gather with our loved ones, take a moment to our military service members, veterans and their families are appreciated by sending a message of thanks through the USO.

5. A simple thank you

President Barack Obama greets Richard Overton, with Earlene Love-Karo, in the Blue Room of the White House, Nov. 11, 2013. Mr. Overton,107 years old and the oldest living World War II veteran, attended the Veteran's Day Breakfast at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

When you see a veteran or any military personnel, shake their hand and simply say "thank you." If you know a military family, pick up the phone to let them know they are appreciated. This simple act of kindness will brighten up their day and make them feel appreciated.

Col. Rich Morales is Executive Director of Joining Forces
First Lady Michelle Obama and Toys for Tots Team Up for the Holidays

Posted by Col. Rich Morales on December 20, 2013 at 3:29 PM EST

First Lady Michelle Obama participates in the sorting of toys during a Toys for Tots service project at the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Toys for Tots Distribution Center in Washington, D.C., December 19, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama visited Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C. to deliver hundreds of toys that Executive Office of the President staff donated to the United States Marine Corps' Toys for Tots campaign, an annual holiday toy drive.

While there, Mrs. Obama welcomed home a group of Marines that just returned from Afghanistan:

I hear that there are four Marines at this base that just returned home from Afghanistan last week, right in time for the holidays. So I just want to take a moment to say on behalf of myself and my husband, your Commander-In-Chief, welcome home.

Then Mrs. Obama thanked military families for all they do throughout the year, while still finding time to run programs like Toys for Tots.

Most people don’t understand that you do all of this service on top of all of the challenges that you face as service members and as military families. And that’s the example that I think the rest of the country needs to see -- that even in the midst of your challenges, you find a way to give back to those less fortunate.

And that’s what makes me proud. That’s what makes me want to step up and do whatever I can to support this effort and to support you all as men and women, and as young men and women -- young heroes, our military kids, who do so much sacrificing. And I really don’t know how you all do it....But I am grateful that you are who you are, and that you make those sacrifices.

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Military OneSource Assists Service Members and their Families with Maintaining their Health and Wellness

Posted by Rory Brosius on December 11, 2013 at 5:04 PM EST

Ed. note: This is part of a series of blogs about wellness issues for Military Families, Veterans, and Service members. Check back for more Wellness Wednesday blogs, where we will cover topics relevant to the holistic health of the military and veteran communities.

I know that at my home, and probably yours, the last few weeks of the year can be a busy and sometimes overwhelming time. Amidst the holiday craziness, making sure we pay attention to our health and wellness is more important than ever. Listening to our bodies, finding time to rest our minds and releasing our stress are critical aspects of achieving and maintaining wellness.

As a military spouse, I understand the abundance of energy our military members and their families expend in service to our country. With the stresses that accompany both everyday life and military life, it’s important to have access to high-quality health and wellness resources to retain a sense of balance. A great wellness resource that active-duty, National Guard or reserve service members and their families have access to is Military OneSource.

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Operation Gratitude Assembles Its One Millionth Care Package

Posted by Col. Rich Morales on December 9, 2013 at 5:16 PM EST

During my time as a Task Force Commander in Baghdad, one of the organizations that I remember fondly is Operation Gratitude. They sent care packages to every one of my nearly one thousand soldiers arrayed across some of the most dangerous parts of Baghdad. The impact on our morale was immediate and it was nice to be reminded that we have a grateful country standing behind our efforts.

Years after receiving those packages, I am excited to share that Operation Gratitude assembled its one millionth package over the weekend. Thousands of volunteers and supporters gathered at the Army National Guard Armory in Van Nuys, California to celebrate this landmark achievement in supporting our nation’s heroes.

Through Operation Gratitude, more than 100,000 military service members deployed in hostile regions, veterans, caregivers and first-responders receive a care package annually. Each package is addressed to a specific individual and is filled with snacks, hygiene products, entertainment items and handwritten letters of appreciation.

Receiving one of these care packages means so much to our deployed service members – and especially to those men and women who don’t receive packages from home. My soldiers were always so grateful for these care packages from Operation Gratitude.

On behalf of the First Lady and Dr. Biden, I want to congratulate Operation Gratitude on their landmark achievement. Their efforts have touched the lives of a million individuals – that’s incredible.

Col. Rich Morales is the Executive Director of Joining Forces

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