Why is it hard for military veterans to find a job?

6 months ago I wrote an opinion to the vet who was having problems finding work in the Human Resources field and I followed on with a further comment 2 months ago. Sad to say but a couple of weeks ago, I saw an article stating that vet unemployment is now at 21.1% - more than twice the national average. This is a stunning statistic and a stunning failure on the part of our government. Currently, many war-weary vets are transitioning from the front line to the unemployment line and then to the park bench. In an economy that is suppose to be so inclusive of all segments of American society, it is vets who are increasingly finding themselves more and more excluded from the economic and labor of this great country of ours. This quite possibly be the greatest unknown crisis facing our society. We're not talking disabled vets, vets suffering from PTSD, etc. - we're talking about over 20% of a segment of our society who lay down their lives to protect this great nation and are rewarded with chronic long-term unemployment and homelessness. The percentile of unemployed vets is at it's highest rate since the end of WW2 and is even higher than it was for vets returning from the unpopular war in Vietnam. I have called the unemployment rate of vets a "Katrina-like" disaster and that's exactly what it is. Unless our government devotes serious resources to alleviating the absurdly high rate of Iraq and Afghan war vets, then no willing American will want to join the armed services (knowing that it will be more difficult for them to succeed in the labor market than it is for the non-vet) thus forcing our government to resort to conscription and draft to fill our armed services needs.

6 months ago I wrote an opinion to the vet who was having problems finding work in the Human Resources field and I followed on with a further comment 2 months ago. Sad to say but a couple of weeks ago, I saw an article stating that vet unemployment is now at 21.1% - more than twice the national average. This is a stunning statistic and a stunning failure on the part of our government. Currently, many war-weary vets are transitioning from the front line to the unemployment line and then to the park bench. In an economy that is suppose to be so inclusive of all segments of American society, it is vets who are increasingly finding themselves more and more excluded from the economic and labor of this great country of ours. This quite possibly be the greatest unknown crisis facing our society. We're not talking disabled vets, vets suffering from PTSD, etc. - we're talking about over 20% of a segment of our society who lay down their lives to protect this great nation and are rewarded with chronic long-term unemployment and homelessness. The percentile of unemployed vets is at it's highest rate since the end of WW2 and is even higher than it was for vets returning from the unpopular war in Vietnam. I have called the unemployment rate of vets a "Katrina-like" disaster and that's exactly what it is. Unless our government devotes serious resources to alleviating the absurdly high rate of Iraq and Afghan war vets, then no willing American will want to join the armed services (knowing that it will be more difficult for them to succeed in the labor market than it is for the non-vet) thus forcing our government to resort to conscription and draft to fill our armed services needs.

Tim: I am glad that you found your perfect place. Some of us are not that lucky post military, sir. I feel you are missing the major point here. Whether we spend four or fourty years in the military, we have lost out on many things. One of the biggest besides family things is the fact that we lost out on starting a career equally. You speak sir about everyone being judged fairly but in reality for many of us it did not and does not happen. For many of us, disabled or not in many cases we are ignored, overlooked and our skills are not even given a chance to be used. While you may have tried to give the best person qualified the jobs, many employeers are not. I as does yourself, have a BA, MA and PHD. I am also disabled and many people with jobs don't even give us a second look. The teaching profession that I sub in every day hires people just out of school and many times it is a budget thing. We cost too much so we get passed over or never interviewed or have the district even look at our application, much more been given the once over to even see if we have skills a school can use. They do not even respond to our applications even with the laws in place in most states that mandate that they do this. The laws are the way they are to mandate that we get considered and given preference for hiring. It doesn't work many times sir and that is not the fairness that you say you have. When this does not happen, how are we supposed to level the field so all of us get the chance to work. You may be fair but many again are not due to politics, the good old boy mentality or just plain apathy on the hiring persons part. We fight this battle every day for fairness and most times it never or seldom happens. This is why it is the way it is.

Wow lots of Ignorance here.
Vets get 5 points of preference in any government position.
If a 10 point vet applies, Only veterans can be accepted for that position.
With the economy as it is, veterans are getting the vats majority of entry level positions, because as soon as a 10 point vet applies all civilians are blocked no matter how awesome they are.
Government anti-military? please... they get a huge advantage when applying for government positions.
You may be having a hard time because entry level or even mid level positions are getting 100-300 applicants.

cmm in Williamstown, New Jersey said: I don't normally comment on these types of issues, however, I too am a military veteran (24 years of service) in the HR field. I have found that my military experience does not translate well in the civilian sector. Keep trying but in the meantime, I recommend you spell check all your work. I found several errors in your messages above.

Make sure that if you tell people they should spell check, that you do the same! lol

See below. This is why Veterans are not hired. We have people in HR that make up their own rules, not following the written rules that were put in place for veterans. We never fully get the credit WE deserve!!!!

Sue Collins,
You, ma'am, need anti-psychotic medications! So, you feel it is perfectly fine for "vets to look out for vets", but it is NOT ok for non-vets to look out for non-vets? That, ma'am, is called DISCRIMINATION! Thank goodness the democrats are finallly in charge, and the nobel prize winning Obama, the hero of America!
And also, the other who is applying for HR jobs but you do not yet have a bachelors degree, that is how it works. When someone who already has HR experience, civilian or govmt, etc, AND they have a bachelors degree in HR, but you do NOT, then THEY are more qualified than you, and deserve the job. That is how it works. I used to have a federal job, and was a HR director. I have NO military experience, but I have HR experience (loads of it), and a BA degree as well as a masters degree. I always found ways to hire the MOST qualified and educated person. If the most qualified & educated was a vet, then I would hire them. If the most qualified and educated was a civilian, then I would "see to it" that they got the job, one way or another! This giving points for disabilities (especially depression/anxiety...LOL, is a complete joke. So is giving DISCRIMINATORY extra points for "veterans". Point of fact--EVERY full-time working American CONTRIBUTES to America, NOT just vets! I am glad that I and "others" can, did, and does find ways to make sure that hiring for federal jobs is done fairly, and without unfair discrimination. Giving preference to people just because they were vets is the same as giving preference to someone because they are African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, etc.

You are truley a piece of work. So....this means that you never followed the rules or regulations intrusted to you. We as veterans earned those points. No one ask you to give it to a veteran for the sake that he or she is a veteran. When you hire veterans you get practical experience regardless whether he or she has a degree. Most vets that I know earned their degree while in the service, with exception to maybe younger ones who only stayed one tour. But thank God they have the option. Predident Obama made sure of that. People like you will not be able to take that benefit away. Remember this. You will certainly reap what you sow. Sow a bad seed, it WILL come back to you.

tim tom, BA, MS in Göteborg, Sweden said: I wish all of you best of luck in finding jobs, as long as you truly deserve the job because of experience and education.
Yep, things are very tough in the US. You can thank G.W. BUSH, and the war on Iraq for a large part of the economic hole the US is in right now. Since 2001, the war on Iraq has cost nearly $900 BILLION! That is how much the healthcare reform bill costs! I love it how the republican reps feel we can afford to spend billions and billions of US taxpayer money, but we cannot afford the same money in healthcare for ALL Americans! Threaten to Eliminiate TRICARE, or cushy govmt. healthplans and see how some would like that! I also laugh how they say the US is becoming socialistic like Sweden, etc., when Sweden is NOT a socialist country. Some of its policies are more socialistic than some US policies, but many are the opposite. I love it, for example, how in Sweden, I worked only 1 year full time, but became injured (lower back problems-bulging disc), and now I get 80% of my former full time pay, with 100% free healthcare (as everyone does in Sweden/EU and the rest of the modern, intelligent world). I make nearly $2,000 sitting at home, LOL! Sweden is the best! I get FREE medications each month that used to cost me $1,200 per month! God Bless Sweden and the EU!! Best thing I ever did-leave the US!

If you are Swedish and not an American maybe you should shut your mouth and be happy with your fellow Swedes who are being taxed to death to pay for your lazy, unproductive lifestyle. It WAS the best thing you EVER did was to leave the United States you disgusting litle coward. Oh and by the way, has the birth rate of Islamists surpassed the in-bred rate of Swedes yet? All you really are is another welfare case living off someone else. Poor Boy!

TRUTH said: WHY STAY IN THE SERVICE, THIS IS WHY THE VA AND MANY GOVENMENRAGENCIES ARE THE WAY THEY ARE, TEY HIRE AOT OF CIVILIANS WHO NEVER SERVED, LOOK AT THE VA FACT 30 PERVENT VETERANS WORK INSIDE THE va BUT THE BOSSES, MANY NEVER NEVER SERVED AND THERE BEAN COUNTERS-, lOOK AT ARE OWN COUNTRY OUR COUNTRY HAS VOTTED IN DRAFT DOGGERS-AND GUESS WHAT THEY ALREADY TOLD YOU WHAT THEY THINK OF THERE COUNTRY THEY SAID 889 YOU. tHE RICH RAN, BUT THEY SURE CAN START WARS FAST WHERE WERE THEY, BUSH HIS DADDY HIM HE NEVER SERVED, CHANEY, DRAF DOGGER AND THERE THE BIGGEST WAR MONGERS, CLINTON AND HE WAS EVEN ON A ROTC SCHORLARSHIP SEE THESE RICH EPOPLE GET ALL THE PERKS AND GOOD COLLEGES BUT WHEN THEY HAVE TO DEFENT THERE COUNTRY THEY COME UP WITH MEDICL DESQUALIFYING HEMMROIDS. BUT THEY SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND GIVE AMERICA ALLA HEMMROID, CLINTON BUSH AND MANY OTHER RUIN THIS NATION WE AS A COUNTRY NEED TO STOP ELECTING DRAFT DOGGERS, BCAUSE YOUR PEEING ON THE ONES WHO SERVED. nOW oBAMA SAYS HES GOING TO HELP SERVICE MEMEBERS WITH JOB, HOW THE ONLY WAY IS TO THROUGH OUT THE OLD LAWS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TOO MANY LOOP HOLES. AND WE ARE NOT A PRIRIORTY. lok at our ecnom this economy was sank on purpose, this was no accident there is no accidents, one they needed people in the military it so bad they went after illegals, now they have lines they know a draft would of sparked demonstrations for a war that is a lie. Veterans like our benefits ae a joke we hae to fight for even the benefits that are there look at compensation rates, there loosing records even at the records area, then its your fault they lost your records they deny your compensation claim.

Learn how to spell and turn off caps lock haha

foxsha75 in Stockbridge, Georgia said: Hello everyone,
I am a 28 year old Army Veteran who was just Honorably Discharged from the military after 8 years. I worked in the Human Resources field, and have extensive knowledge in Administrative and HR. I currently go to school part time to finish my Bachelors in Human resources, but I feel like that is not enough for employers.

I have been out of the Army since October, and have been trying to find work ever since. I went to the unemployment office and was denied benefits twice. I am going to file another appeal after the Martin Luther King Holiday. I love to work, and I had no problem serving my country, but I feel like no one is taking me seriously, and it hurts so much.

With bills piling up, and my car in danger of reposession, I feel like I want to give up. I have been to numerous interviews, and sent my resumes to every staffing agency, and job site, but its not getting anywhere. I feel like my country has not only let hard working americans down, but myself as well. Anyone has any advice or inspiration. I really need some right now. Thank you so much for reading what I have to say.

It all depends on what you’re looking for. Without the degree it’s hard to say that anyone would pick you up. Even though your skills might be excellent, without your degree you might have to settle for a GS 4-5 position if you’re willing to do that you might be able to get a chance, but after that you can advance quickly if the skills are there as you say. I am a navy vet and having similar issues and i have my MBA, but I was able to get unemployment. Hang in there it will all work out!

foxsha75 in Stockbridge, Georgia said: I am applying for government jobs as well. Its very frustrating because everyone is trying to get the same jobs as I am. So the competition is very stiff. I lost my appeal because they said that I got separation pay when I was honorably discharged from the army. The military took that away when I didnt finish my reenlistment obligations, but it still showed on my DD214 as recieving compensation. I gave the Department of labor the paperwork showing that the Army took it from me, but they still denied it. I am going back to the Department of Labor and file another appeal. Hopefully, they accept it this time and I can recieve benefits. I have been living off of savings, but it has ran out, and I am in danger of losing my car. All I can do is pray that they give me benefits. There are people who are abusing the system and not really looking for work. I have been in the military for almost 9 years, and I deserve UI benefits. Its very sad...

I don't know why they are denying you UI benefits. When i got out i received unemployment and i also had separation pay from the Army, that shouldn't matter. I am truly sorry that you are going through this. One suggestion for you to do is to apply for student loans and get enough of a loan for school but also enough to help out with living expenses and bills. My wife is doing that now. Of course we have to pay it back in the long run but at least it will help us out now. have you gone to the VA yet their is also benefits through them? keep your head up and thank you for your service we should treat our men and women better than this.

I would ask Ellen from tv im sure if she sees this she'd get you the money I know I would but I don't have money either and my husband is getting out of the army next week. It's hard too because we have 3 kids and no car and we are almost 30 years old and have to move in with our parents it's embarrassing but at least the kids are safe. I think if you also try doing a bunch of sweepstakes and instant win games it's better to take your chances then not to have those chances at all ya know? I hope something good comes your way. God bless!