Attachment C - News Release

1

Technical information:

Media contact:

(202) 691-6378
http://www.bls.gov/cps/
691-5902

USDL 06-897
For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Friday, May 26, 2006

EMPLOYMENT SITUATION OF VETERANS: AUGUST 2005
In August 2005, the unemployment rate for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces was 3.9 percent, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. There were 3.4 million
Gulf War-era veterans (those who served anytime since August 1990) in the labor force. The jobless rate
for these veterans was 5.2 percent. About 11 percent of all veterans had a service-connected disability.
This information on veterans was obtained from a special supplement to the August 2005 Current
Population Survey (CPS). The CPS is the monthly sample survey that provides much of the basic data on
employment and unemployment for the United States. The CPS is conducted for BLS by the U.S. Census
Bureau. While data about veterans are collected monthly in the CPS, the supplement contains additional
questions on special topics such as service-connected disability status and year of discharge. The veterans
supplement was co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of
Labor’s Veterans Employment and Training Service. Such a supplement has been conducted biennially since
1985. For a detailed description of the survey, including definitions of terms used in this release, see the
Technical Note.
Demographic Characteristics of Veterans
In August 2005, 23.4 million men and women in the civilian noninstitutional population had served in the
U.S. Armed Forces at some time in the past. About 3.9 million served during the Gulf War era, which began
in August 1990 and continues to the present day; more information about these veterans’ demographic and
labor force characteristics appears in a separate section below. Another 13.5 million, or nearly three-fifths
of all veterans, served during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam era. (See table 1. See table
9 for a breakdown of veterans who served in multiple wartime periods.) Six million veterans served on active
duty during other service periods, such as the periods between the Korean War and the Vietnam era, and
between the Vietnam era and the Gulf War era.
The veterans’ population is significantly older than the nonveterans’ population. In August 2005, 63 percent of veterans were at least 55 years old, compared with about 26 percent of nonveterans. Only about
1 percent of all veterans were age 18 to 24, compared with 14 percent of nonveterans. (See table 2.)
Whites made up a larger share of the veteran population, 87 percent, than of the nonveteran population,
81 percent. Blacks comprised 10 percent of all veterans and 12 percent of all nonveterans. One percent of
veterans were Asian, while about 5 percent of nonveterans were Asian. About 4 percent of veterans were of
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, while Hispanics comprised 14 percent of nonveterans. (Hispanics can be of any
race.) Women made up 7 percent of all veterans, compared with 57 percent of nonveterans. (See table 1.)

2

Labor Force Characteristics of Veterans
Overall, 55.6 percent of male veterans age 18 and over were in the labor force in August 2005,
compared with 81.1 percent of nonveterans of that age. This difference in participation rates reflects the
older age profile of male veterans, who are much more likely than nonveterans to be 55 years or over. For
men age 18 to 54, the labor force participation rates of both veterans and nonveterans were about 88 percent. Female veterans and nonveterans—whose age profiles were more alike than the men’s—each had a
participation rate around 60 percent. (See tables 1 and 2.)
The unemployment rate of male veterans (3.7 percent) was little different from the rate of nonveterans
(4.4 percent) in August 2005. Among men 18 to 24 years old, however, veterans had a higher jobless rate
than nonveterans (17.2 versus 10.4 percent). The unemployment rate of female veterans (5.9 percent) was
about the same as that for nonveterans (5.0 percent).
The unemployment rate for black veterans was lower than that for black nonveterans—6.5 percent
compared with 9.5 percent in August 2005. Similarly, Hispanic veterans had a lower unemployment rate
(2.9 percent) than Hispanic nonveterans (5.4 percent). For whites and Asians, there was little difference in
the unemployment rates between veterans and nonveterans.
The occupational distribution of employed male veterans was similar to that of their nonveteran counterparts. About 3 out of 10 male veterans and nonveterans were employed in management, professional,
and related occupations, while about 2 out of 10 were employed in each of three categories: natural
resources, construction, and maintenance occupations; sales and office occupations; and production,
transportation, and material moving occupations. Among women, about 4 out of 10 veterans as well as
nonveterans worked in management and professional occupations, while about one-third were employed
in sales and office occupations. (See table 3.)
Gulf War-Era Veterans
This release is the first that BLS has issued that separately identifies Gulf War-era veterans. In August
2005, there were 3.3 million male veterans and about 600,000 female veterans who served in the U.S.
Armed Forces during the Gulf War era (from August 1990 forward) and were not on active duty at the time
of the survey. Whites accounted for 79 percent of Gulf War-era veterans, blacks comprised 16 percent,
and Asians were 1 percent. Seven percent were of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. (See table 1.)
A large majority (87.0 percent) of Gulf War-era veterans were in the labor force in August 2005. Gulf
War-era veterans were more likely to be in the labor force than were nonveterans in the same age groups.
About 4 in 5 Gulf War-era veterans were employed. Among persons 18 to 24 years old, there was little
difference in the proportions of Gulf War-era veterans and nonveterans who were employed. Among older
age groups, higher shares of Gulf War-era veterans than nonveterans were employed.
The unemployment rate of Gulf War-era veterans was 5.2 percent. Young Gulf War-era veterans
(18 to 24 years old) had a higher unemployment rate (18.7 percent) than young nonveterans (9.9 percent).
Older Gulf War-era veterans (25 to 54 years old) had an unemployment rate very similar to their nonveteran
peers—about 4 percent.
Of the 3.9 million Gulf War-era veterans in August 2005, 2.8 million had served between August 1990
and August 2001, referred to in this release as Gulf War era I. The other 1.1 million had served since
September 2001, referred to as Gulf War era II. Veterans who served in both sub-eras are counted in the
most recent one (Gulf War era II). (See table 8.)

3

Nearly 800,000 veterans reported being discharged from active duty between January 2002 and August
2005. (Not all veterans reported the year of their discharge.) Women accounted for 15 percent of these
recently discharged veterans, blacks were 17 percent, and Hispanics were 11 percent. The labor force
participation rate for recently discharged veterans was 86.0 percent, and their unemployment rate was
11.9 percent. (See table 6.)
Disabled Veterans
In August 2005, about 2.5 million veterans, or 11 percent of the total, reported having a service-connected disability. (Some veterans did not report whether they had a service-connected disability.) Veterans
with a service-connected disability are assigned a disability rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Ratings range from 0 to 100 percent, in increments of 10 percentage points, depending on the severity of
the condition. Nearly half of disabled veterans reported a disability rating of less than 30 percent, while
22 percent had a rating of 60 percent or higher. (See table 4.)
The incidence of service-connected disabilities was slightly higher for those who served during the Gulf
War era than for those who served during earlier designated wartime periods. However, veterans of the
earlier wartime periods were more likely than Gulf War-era veterans to have a 60 percent or higher disability
rating. Among Gulf War-era veterans, 17 percent reported a disability rating of 60 percent or more, compared with 25 percent of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam-era veterans.
Of Gulf War-era veterans with a disability, 82.9 percent were in the labor force, compared with 89.0
percent of nondisabled veterans from this period. The unemployment rate of disabled veterans from the Gulf
War era was 5.4 percent, essentially the same as the rate for nondisabled veterans (5.2 percent).
Of the nearly 800,000 veterans discharged between January 2002 and August 2005, about 1 in 5, or
167,000, reported a service-connected disability. Of these, 58 percent had a disability rating of 30 percent
or higher, compared with 44 percent of veterans discharged between 1991 and 2001. (See table 7.)
About one-third of the disabled veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam era were
in the labor force in August 2005. This relatively low rate of labor force participation reflects the age of this
group (88 percent of these veterans were 55 years or older) as well as the effects of their disabilities.
Among veterans of these periods who did not have a service-connected disability, 44.4 percent were in the
labor force. The unemployment rate of disabled veterans of these earlier wartime periods was 3.2 percent;
for nondisabled veterans, it was 3.9 percent. (See table 4.)
Disabled veterans who were on active duty during other service periods (times between the designated
wartime eras) had a 55.4 percent labor force participation rate, compared with 64.4 percent for nondisabled
veterans from these periods. The unemployment rate of disabled veterans from other service periods was
4.4 percent, compared with 3.6 percent for the nondisabled.
About one-third of disabled veterans were employed in federal, state, and local governments, compared
with 17 percent of nondisabled veterans and 14 percent of nonveterans. About 18 percent of employed
disabled veterans worked for the federal government. This compared with 6 percent of nondisabled veterans
and 2 percent of nonveterans. (See table 5.)

Technical Note
The estimates in this release were obtained from a supplement
to the August 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS), a monthly
survey of about 60,000 households which provides the national
data on total employment and unemployment. The CPS is
conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS).
The supplement was co-sponsored by the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs and by the U.S. Department of Labor’s
Veterans Employment and Training Service. Questions were
asked of persons 18 years of age and older regarding their prior
service in the U.S. Armed Forces and whether they had a
service-connected disability.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory
impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-6915200; TDD message referral phone number: 1-800-877-8339.
Reliability of the estimates
Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling
and nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than the entire
population, is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample
estimates will differ from the “true” population values they
represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this
variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.
There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that
an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6
standard errors from the “true” population value because of
sampling error. BLS analyses are generally conducted at the
90-percent level of confidence.
The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error.
Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including the
failure to sample a segment of the population, inability to obtain
information for all respondents in the sample, inability or
unwillingness of respondents to provide correct information,
and errors made in the collection or processing of the data.
Standard practice in the CPS is for one member of the
household to answer questions for all the household members.
In the case of the supplementary questions about veterans,
however, several attempts were made to collect the information
directly from the veterans. This was done because some of the
information would be best provided by the veterans themselves.
For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS
and information on estimating standard errors, see the
“Explanatory Notes and Estimates of Error” section of the BLS
monthly periodical, Employment and Earnings.
Definitions
The definitions underlying the data in this release are as
follows:
Veterans are men and women who previously served on
active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. Members of the

Reserves and National Guard are counted as veterans if they
had ever been called to active duty.
Nonveterans are men and women who never served on
active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.
World War II, Korean War, Vietnam-era, and Gulf War-era
veterans are men and women who served in the Armed Forces
during these periods, regardless of where they served.
Veterans who served in more than one wartime period are
classified in the most recent one.
Veterans of other service periods are men and women who
served in the Armed Forces at any time other than World War
II, the Korean War, the Vietnam era, and the Gulf War era.
Although U.S. Armed Forces were engaged in several armed
conflicts during other service periods, these conflicts were
more limited in scope and included a smaller proportion of the
Armed Forces than the selected wartime periods. Veterans who
served during one of the selected wartime periods and during
another period are classified according to the wartime
period.
Veteran status is provided from responses to the question,
“Did you ever serve on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces?”
Period of service is provided from answers to the question
asked of veterans, “When did you serve?” The following
service periods are identified:
Gulf War era — August 1990 - present
Vietnam era — February 1961 - May 1975
Korean War — June 1950 - January 1955
World War II — September 1940 - July 1947
Other service periods — All other periods
The Gulf War era has been divided into two sub-eras: Gulf
War era I, which includes all those who served between
August 1990 and August 2001; and Gulf War era II, which
includes all those who served from September 2001 to the
present. Veterans who served in both sub-eras are classified
in the more recent one (era II).
Vietnam-era veterans are those who served anywhere
between August 5, 1964, and May 7, 1975, plus those who were
in Southeast Asia between February 28, 1961, and August 4,
1964.
Presence of service-connected disability is provided by
answers to the question, “Has the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) or the Department of Defense determined that you
have a service-connected disability; that is, a health condition
or impairment caused or made worse by military service?”
Service-connected disability rating is based on answers to
the question, “What is your current service-connected
disability rating?” Answers can range from 0 to 100 percent,
in increments of 10 percentage points. Ratings are determined
from a rating schedule published in the Code of Federal

Regulations, Title 38, “Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans’
Relief,” Part 4—“Schedule for Rating Disabilities.” The rating
schedule is “primarily a guide in the evaluation of disability
resulting from all types of diseases and injuries encountered as
a result of or incident to military service. The percentage
ratings represent as far as can practicably be determined the
average impairment in earning capacity resulting from such

diseases and injuries and their residual conditions in civil
occupations.” Part 4 contains a listing of hundreds of possible
disorders and assigns ratings of 0 through 100 percent in steps
of 10 percent for each, with instructions for rating multiple disorders.
Year of discharge is determined by answers to the question,
“In what year were you last separated from active duty in the
Armed Forces?”

Table 1. Employment status of persons 18 years and over by veteran status, period of service, sex, race,
and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, August 2005, not seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
Civilian labor force
Veteran status, period of service,
sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Civilian
noninstitutional
population

Employed
Total

Unemployed

Percent
of
population

Total

Percent
of
population

Total

Percent
of
labor force

Not in
labor
force

TOTAL
Total, 18 years and over .......................................
Veterans ............................................................
Gulf War era ....................................................
WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam era .............
Other service periods ......................................
Nonveterans ......................................................

217,826
23,402
3,861
13,527
6,015
194,424

147,348
13,105
3,358
5,849
3,899
134,243

67.6
56.0
87.0
43.2
64.8
69.0

140,520
12,594
3,184
5,647
3,762
127,926

64.5
53.8
82.5
41.8
62.5
65.8

6,828
511
173
201
137
6,317

4.6
3.9
5.2
3.4
3.5
4.7

70,478
10,297
503
7,678
2,116
60,181

104,903
21,756
3,253
13,067
5,436
83,147

79,550
12,088
2,935
5,679
3,473
67,462

75.8
55.6
90.2
43.5
63.9
81.1

76,138
11,637
2,791
5,491
3,355
64,502

72.6
53.5
85.8
42.0
61.7
77.6

3,411
451
144
189
118
2,960

4.3
3.7
4.9
3.3
3.4
4.4

25,353
9,668
318
7,387
1,963
15,685

112,923
1,646
608
460
578
111,277

67,798
1,017
422
169
426
66,781

60.0
61.8
69.5
36.8
73.6
60.0

64,381
957
393
157
407
63,424

57.0
58.2
64.7
34.1
70.4
57.0

3,417
60
29
13
18
3,357

5.0
5.9
6.9
7.4
4.3
5.0

45,125
629
185
291
153
44,496

178,031
20,390
3,047
12,288
5,054
157,641

120,504
11,129
2,680
5,278
3,171
109,375

67.7
54.6
88.0
43.0
62.7
69.4

115,712
10,738
2,551
5,109
3,078
104,974

65.0
52.7
83.7
41.6
60.9
66.6

4,792
391
129
169
93
4,401

4.0
3.5
4.8
3.2
2.9
4.0

57,527
9,261
367
7,010
1,883
48,267

25,312
2,255
614
891
750
23,056

16,993
1,509
506
424
580
15,484

67.1
66.9
82.4
47.5
77.2
67.2

15,427
1,411
466
402
544
14,016

60.9
62.6
75.9
45.1
72.4
60.8

1,567
98
40
22
36
1,469

9.2
6.5
7.9
5.1
6.2
9.5

8,318
746
108
468
171
7,572

9,536
221
51
122
48
9,315

6,440
116
38
40
38
6,324

67.5
52.5
(1)
32.6
(1)
67.9

6,214
112
35
39
38
6,101

65.2
50.9
(1)
31.9
(1)
65.5

226
3
2
1
–
223

3.5
2.9
(1)
(1)
–
3.5

3,096
105
13
82
10
2,992

27,751
1,017
284
438
296
26,734

19,520
632
241
209
182
18,888

70.3
62.2
85.0
47.8
61.5
70.6

18,478
614
240
196
178
17,864

66.6
60.4
84.7
44.8
60.1
66.8

1,042
18
1
13
4
1,024

5.3
2.9
.3
6.2
2.4
5.4

8,231
385
43
229
114
7,846

Men
Total, 18 years and over .......................................
Veterans ............................................................
Gulf War era ....................................................
WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam era .............
Other service periods ......................................
Nonveterans ......................................................
Women
Total, 18 years and over .......................................
Veterans ............................................................
Gulf War era ....................................................
WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam era .............
Other service periods ......................................
Nonveterans ......................................................
White
Total, 18 years and over .......................................
Veterans ............................................................
Gulf War era ....................................................
WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam era .............
Other service periods ......................................
Nonveterans ......................................................
Black or African American
Total, 18 years and over .......................................
Veterans ............................................................
Gulf War era ....................................................
WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam era .............
Other service periods ......................................
Nonveterans ......................................................
Asian
Total, 18 years and over .......................................
Veterans ............................................................
Gulf War era ....................................................
WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam era .............
Other service periods ......................................
Nonveterans ......................................................
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Total, 18 years and over .......................................
Veterans ............................................................
Gulf War era ....................................................
WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam era .............
Other service periods ......................................
Nonveterans ......................................................

1 Ratios are not shown where the denominator is less than 75,000.
Small estimated levels are based on a small number of survey responses
and, thus, are subject to relatively large standard errors.
NOTE: Veterans are men and women who served in the U.S. Armed
Forces during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam era, the Gulf
War era, and all other service periods. Nonveterans are men and women
who never served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Other service periods
include the periods between World War II and the Korean War, between

the Korean War and the Vietnam era, and between the Vietnam era and
the Gulf War era. More detailed information appears in the Technical Note
of this release. Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or
African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not
presented for all race groups. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is
identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are
classified by ethnicity as well as by race. Dash represents or rounds to
zero.

Table 2. Employment status of persons 18 years and over by veteran status, period of service, and age, August 2005,
not seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
Civilian labor force
Veteran status, period of service,
and age

Civilian
noninstitutional
population

Employed
Total

Percent
of
population

Total

Percent
of
population

Unemployed

Total

Percent
of
labor force

Not in
labor
force

TOTAL
VETERANS
Total, 18 years and over .............................
18 to 24 years .........................................
25 to 34 years .........................................
35 to 44 years .........................................
45 to 54 years .........................................
55 to 64 years .........................................
65 years and over ...................................

23,402
316
1,557
2,931
3,865
5,771
8,962

13,105
245
1,397
2,650
3,335
3,935
1,542

56.0
77.5
89.7
90.4
86.3
68.2
17.2

12,594
199
1,345
2,554
3,214
3,796
1,486

53.8
63.0
86.3
87.2
83.2
65.8
16.6

511
46
53
96
120
140
56

3.9
18.7
3.8
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.7

10,297
71
160
280
531
1,835
7,420

3,861
316
1,496
1,259
601
151
37

3,358
245
1,336
1,137
527
107
5

87.0
77.5
89.3
90.3
87.6
71.1
(1)

3,184
199
1,284
1,081
510
105
5

82.5
63.0
85.8
85.9
84.8
69.8
(1)

173
46
52
56
17
2
–

5.2
18.7
3.9
4.9
3.3
1.9
–

503
71
160
122
74
44
32

13,527
1,676
4,872
6,979

5,849
1,402
3,416
1,031

43.2
83.7
70.1
14.8

5,647
1,364
3,289
994

41.8
81.4
67.5
14.2

201
38
127
36

3.4
2.7
3.7
3.5

7,678
274
1,456
5,948

6,015
61
1,672
1,588
748
1,946

3,899
61
1,514
1,406
412
506

64.8
(1)
90.5
88.5
55.1
26.0

3,762
60
1,473
1,340
401
487

62.5
(1)
88.1
84.4
53.7
25.0

137
–
40
66
11
20

3.5
(1)
2.7
4.7
2.6
3.9

2,116
–
158
182
336
1,439

194,424
27,796
37,537
40,058
38,323
24,522
26,188

134,243
19,966
30,894
33,283
31,254
15,131
3,715

69.0
71.8
82.3
83.1
81.6
61.7
14.2

127,926
17,992
29,348
32,064
30,280
14,649
3,593

65.8
64.7
78.2
80.0
79.0
59.7
13.7

6,317
1,974
1,546
1,219
973
482
122

4.7
9.9
5.0
3.7
3.1
3.2
3.3

60,181
7,830
6,643
6,775
7,069
9,391
22,473

Gulf War era
Total, 18 years and over .............................
18 to 24 years .........................................
25 to 34 years .........................................
35 to 44 years .........................................
45 to 54 years .........................................
55 to 64 years .........................................
65 years and over ...................................
WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam era 2
Total, 45 years and over .............................
45 to 54 years .........................................
55 to 64 years .........................................
65 years and over ...................................
Other service periods
Total, 25 years and over .............................
25 to 34 years .........................................
35 to 44 years .........................................
45 to 54 years .........................................
55 to 64 years .........................................
65 years and over ...................................
NONVETERANS
Total, 18 years and over .............................
18 to 24 years .........................................
25 to 34 years .........................................
35 to 44 years .........................................
45 to 54 years .........................................
55 to 64 years .........................................
65 years and over ...................................

See footnotes at end of table.

Table 2. Employment status of persons 18 years and over by veteran status, period of service, and age, August 2005,
not seasonally adjusted—Continued
(Numbers in thousands)
Civilian labor force
Veteran status, period of service,
and age

Civilian
noninstitutional
population

Employed
Total

Percent
of
population

Total

Percent
of
population

Unemployed

Total

Percent
of
labor force

Not in
labor
force

MEN
VETERANS
Total, 18 years and over .............................
18 to 24 years .........................................
25 to 34 years .........................................
35 to 44 years .........................................
45 to 54 years .........................................
55 to 64 years .........................................
65 years and over ...................................

21,756
248
1,293
2,495
3,432
5,629
8,659

12,088
200
1,220
2,288
2,988
3,866
1,525

55.6
80.5
94.4
91.7
87.1
68.7
17.6

11,637
165
1,180
2,198
2,893
3,731
1,470

53.5
66.7
91.3
88.1
84.3
66.3
17.0

451
34
40
90
96
136
55

3.7
17.2
3.3
3.9
3.2
3.5
3.6

9,668
48
73
207
443
1,763
7,135

3,253
248
1,244
1,071
513
145
32

2,935
200
1,172
986
467
105
5

90.2
80.5
94.2
92.1
90.9
72.8
(1)

2,791
165
1,132
933
453
103
5

85.8
66.7
90.9
87.1
88.3
71.4
(1)

144
34
40
54
14
2
–

4.9
17.2
3.4
5.4
3.0
1.9
–

318
48
73
84
47
39
27

13,067
1,561
4,775
6,731

5,679
1,299
3,361
1,019

43.5
83.3
70.4
15.1

5,491
1,269
3,238
984

42.0
81.3
67.8
14.6

189
31
123
35

3.3
2.3
3.7
3.5

7,387
261
1,413
5,713

5,436
49
1,424
1,358
709
1,896

3,473
49
1,302
1,222
400
501

63.9
(1)
91.4
90.0
56.3
26.4

3,355
49
1,265
1,171
389
481

61.7
(1)
88.8
86.2
54.8
25.4

118
–
36
52
11
20

3.4
–
2.8
4.2
2.7
4.0

1,963
–
123
135
310
1,395

83,147
13,840
18,172
18,678
17,208
8,937
6,313

67,462
10,488
16,778
17,208
15,245
6,274
1,469

81.1
75.8
92.3
92.1
88.6
70.2
23.3

64,502
9,395
16,086
16,659
14,807
6,109
1,446

77.6
67.9
88.5
89.2
86.0
68.4
22.9

2,960
1,093
693
548
438
165
23

4.4
10.4
4.1
3.2
2.9
2.6
1.6

15,685
3,352
1,393
1,470
1,963
2,664
4,844

Gulf War era
Total, 18 years and over .............................
18 to 24 years .........................................
25 to 34 years .........................................
35 to 44 years .........................................
45 to 54 years .........................................
55 to 64 years .........................................
65 years and over ...................................
WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam era 2
Total, 45 years and over .............................
45 to 54 years .........................................
55 to 64 years .........................................
65 years and over ...................................
Other service periods
Total, 25 years and over .............................
25 to 34 years .........................................
35 to 44 years .........................................
45 to 54 years .........................................
55 to 64 years .........................................
65 years and over ...................................
NONVETERANS
Total, 18 years and over .............................
18 to 24 years .........................................
25 to 34 years .........................................
35 to 44 years .........................................
45 to 54 years .........................................
55 to 64 years .........................................
65 years and over ...................................

See footnotes at end of table.

Table 2. Employment status of persons 18 years and over by veteran status, period of service, and age, August 2005,
not seasonally adjusted—Continued
(Numbers in thousands)
Civilian labor force
Veteran status, period of service,
and age

Civilian
noninstitutional
population

Employed
Total

Percent
of
population

Total

Percent
of
population

Unemployed

Total

Percent
of
labor force

Not in
labor
force

WOMEN
VETERANS
Total, 18 years and over .............................
18 to 24 years .........................................
25 to 34 years .........................................
35 to 44 years .........................................
45 to 54 years .........................................
55 to 64 years .........................................
65 years and over ...................................

1,646
68
264
436
434
142
302

1,017
46
177
362
346
69
17

61.8
(1)
66.9
83.1
79.8
48.7
5.8

957
34
164
356
322
65
16

58.2
(1)
62.3
81.7
74.2
45.8
5.4

60
12
12
6
25
4
1

5.9
(1)
6.9
1.7
7.1
(1)
(1)

629
23
87
73
87
73
285

608
68
252
188
88
6
5

422
46
165
150
60
2
–

69.5
(1)
65.3
79.8
68.4
(1)
–

393
34
153
148
57
2
–

64.7
(1)
60.6
78.7
64.4
(1)
–

29
12
12
2
4

6.9
(1)
7.2
1.5
(1)
–
–

185
23
87
38
28
4
5

460
115
97
247

169
102
55
12

36.8
89.1
56.3
4.8

157
95
51
11

34.1
82.9
52.0
4.3

13
7
4
1

7.4
6.9
(1)
(1)

291
13
43
235

578
12
248
231
38
50

426
12
212
184
12
6

73.6
(1)
85.7
79.6
(1)
(1)

407
12
208
170
12
6

70.4
(1)
84.0
73.5
(1)
(1)

18
4
14

4.3
(1)
1.9
7.6
–
–

153
–
36
47
26
44

111,277
13,956
19,366
21,380
21,115
15,585
19,875

66,781
9,478
14,116
16,075
16,009
8,857
2,246

60.0
67.9
72.9
75.2
75.8
56.8
11.3

63,424
8,597
13,262
15,404
15,474
8,540
2,147

57.0
61.6
68.5
72.1
73.3
54.8
10.8

3,357
881
854
670
535
317
99

5.0
9.3
6.0
4.2
3.3
3.6
4.4

44,496
4,478
5,250
5,305
5,106
6,728
17,629

Gulf War era
Total, 18 years and over .............................
18 to 24 years .........................................
25 to 34 years .........................................
35 to 44 years .........................................
45 to 54 years .........................................
55 to 64 years .........................................
65 years and over ...................................

–
–

WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam era 2
Total, 45 years and over .............................
45 to 54 years .........................................
55 to 64 years .........................................
65 years and over ...................................
Other service periods
Total, 25 years and over .............................
25 to 34 years .........................................
35 to 44 years .........................................
45 to 54 years .........................................
55 to 64 years .........................................
65 years and over ...................................

–

–
–

NONVETERANS
Total, 18 years and over .............................
18 to 24 years .........................................
25 to 34 years .........................................
35 to 44 years .........................................
45 to 54 years .........................................
55 to 64 years .........................................
65 years and over ...................................

1 Ratios are not shown where the denominator is less than 75,000.
Small estimated levels are based on a small number of survey
responses and, thus, are subject to relatively large standard errors.
2 Because of the aging of the population, there are no longer any
veterans of these eras under 45 years of age.
NOTE: Veterans are men and women who served in the U.S. Armed
Forces during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam era, the Gulf

War era, and all other service periods. Nonveterans are men and
women who never served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Other service
periods include the periods between World War II and the Korean War,
between the Korean War and the Vietnam era, and between the
Vietnam era and the Gulf War era. More detailed information appears
in the Technical Note of this release. Dash represents or rounds to
zero.

Table 3. Employed persons 18 years and over by occupation, veteran status, period of service, and sex, August 2005,
not seasonally adjusted
(Percent distribution)
Veterans

Gulf War era

WW II,
Korean
War, and
Vietnam era

Other
service
periods

Nonveterans

Total

Total, 18 years and over (thousands) ................................................
Percent ..............................................................................................

12,594
100.0

3,184
100.0

5,647
100.0

3,762
100.0

127,926
100.0

Management, professional, and related occupations ............................
Management, business, and financial operations occupations ...........
Professional and related occupations ..................................................
Service occupations ..............................................................................
Sales and office occupations .................................................................
Sales and related occupations ............................................................
Office and administrative support occupations ....................................
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ...........
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ..........................................
Construction and extraction occupations .............................................
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ..............................
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ...............
Production occupations .......................................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations ................................

34.3
17.7
16.6
12.2
19.2
10.6
8.6
17.1
.5
8.7
7.9
17.2
7.4
9.7

31.4
13.7
17.7
15.2
19.3
9.1
10.2
17.2
.6
8.4
8.2
16.9
7.6
9.3

36.5
20.0
16.4
10.9
19.9
12.7
7.2
15.6
.6
8.0
7.1
17.1
7.0
10.1

33.6
17.5
16.0
11.5
18.1
8.9
9.3
19.1
.2
10.2
8.8
17.6
8.0
9.6

34.9
14.4
20.5
16.6
25.7
11.3
14.4
10.7
.8
6.5
3.4
12.1
6.4
5.7

Total, 18 years and over (thousands) ................................................
Percent ..............................................................................................

11,637
100.0

2,791
100.0

5,491
100.0

3,355
100.0

64,502
100.0

Management, professional, and related occupations ............................
Management, business, and financial operations occupations ...........
Professional and related occupations ..................................................
Service occupations ..............................................................................
Sales and office occupations .................................................................
Sales and related occupations ............................................................
Office and administrative support occupations ....................................
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ...........
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ..........................................
Construction and extraction occupations .............................................
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ..............................
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ...............
Production occupations .......................................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations ................................

33.8
17.8
16.0
12.0
18.1
10.8
7.3
18.0
.5
9.2
8.3
18.0
7.7
10.3

30.2
13.2
17.0
15.3
17.0
9.0
8.0
18.9
.7
9.0
9.2
18.6
8.2
10.4

36.4
20.3
16.2
10.9
19.4
12.8
6.6
15.9
.6
8.1
7.2
17.4
7.0
10.3

32.6
17.7
14.9
11.0
17.1
9.0
8.0
20.7
.2
11.2
9.3
18.7
8.3
10.3

31.9
15.3
16.6
13.1
16.9
10.5
6.4
20.2
1.2
12.5
6.5
18.0
8.4
9.6

Total, 18 years and over (thousands) ................................................
Percent ..............................................................................................

957
100.0

393
100.0

157
100.0

407
100.0

63,424
100.0

Management, professional, and related occupations ............................
Management, business, and financial operations occupations ...........
Professional and related occupations ..................................................
Service occupations ..............................................................................
Sales and office occupations .................................................................
Sales and related occupations ............................................................
Office and administrative support occupations ....................................
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ...........
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ..........................................
Construction and extraction occupations .............................................
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ..............................
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ...............
Production occupations .......................................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations ................................

40.2
15.9
24.3
14.9
32.6
8.7
23.8
5.4
–
2.6
2.8
6.9
4.5
2.4

40.3
17.2
23.1
14.6
35.5
9.7
25.9
4.8
–
3.6
1.1
4.7
3.0
1.7

36.7
12.1
24.6
12.4
39.5
9.2
30.3
4.9
–
2.3
–
6.6
6.3
.2

41.5
16.1
25.4
16.2
27.0
7.6
19.4
6.3
–
1.8
4.4
9.0
5.2
3.8

37.9
13.4
24.5
20.2
34.6
12.0
22.6
1.1
.4
.4
.3
6.1
4.3
1.8

Occupation

TOTAL

Men

Women

NOTE: Veterans are men and women who served in the U.S. Armed
Forces during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam era, the Gulf
War era, and all other service periods. Nonveterans are men and
women who never served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Other service
periods include the periods between World War II and the Korean War,
between the Korean War and the Vietnam era, and between the

Vietnam era and the Gulf War era. More detailed information appears
in the Technical Note of this release. Occupations reflect the 2002
Census occupational classification system derived from the 2000
Standard Occupational Classification system. Dash represents or
rounds to zero.

Table 4. Employment status of veterans 18 years and over by period of service, presence of service-connected disability,
reported disability rating, and sex, August 2005, not seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
Civilian labor force
Period of service, presence of disability,
reported disability rating, and sex

Civilian
noninstitutional
population

Employed
Total

Percent
of
population

Total

Percent
of
population

Unemployed

Total

Percent
of
labor force

Not in
labor
force

TOTAL
VETERANS
With service-connected disability .............................................
Less than 30 percent disability rating ..................................
30 to 50 percent disability rating ..........................................
60 percent or higher disability rating ....................................
Disability rating not reported ................................................
Without service-connected disability ........................................
Presence of disability not reported ...........................................

2,531
1,189
557
561
225
17,450
3,421

1,244
686
281
173
103
9,785
2,076

49.1
57.7
50.5
30.9
45.9
56.1
60.7

1,188
655
269
172
92
9,384
2,021

46.9
55.1
48.3
30.6
41.1
53.8
59.1

55
31
12
1
11
401
55

4.4
4.5
4.4
.9
10.4
4.1
2.6

1,288
503
276
388
122
7,665
1,345

642
318
163
112
49
2,496
722

532
281
131
83
38
2,222
603

82.9
88.5
80.5
73.5
(1)
89.0
83.5

503
271
123
81
28
2,106
575

78.4
85.3
75.7
72.1
(1)
84.4
79.6

29
10
8
1
9
116
28

5.4
3.6
6.0
1.8
(1)
5.2
4.7

110
37
32
30
12
274
119

1,405
617
290
357
140
10,317
1,805

443
253
84
58
48
4,577
829

31.5
41.0
29.0
16.2
34.1
44.4
45.9

429
241
83
58
47
4,399
820

30.5
39.1
28.5
16.2
33.2
42.6
45.4

14
11
2
–
1
178
9

3.2
4.5
2.0
–
(1)
3.9
1.0

962
364
206
299
92
5,740
976

485
254
103
92
35
4,637
893

268
152
66
33
18
2,986
644

55.4
59.9
63.6
35.8
(1)
64.4
72.1

256
143
63
33
18
2,879
626

52.9
56.3
60.8
35.8
(1)
62.1
70.1

12
9
3
–
–
107
18

4.4
6.0
(1)
–
–
3.6
2.8

216
102
38
59
18
1,650
249

Gulf War era
With service-connected disability .............................................
Less than 30 percent disability rating ..................................
30 to 50 percent disability rating ..........................................
60 percent or higher disability rating ....................................
Disability rating not reported ................................................
Without service-connected disability ........................................
Presence of disability not reported ...........................................
WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam era
With service-connected disability .............................................
Less than 30 percent disability rating ..................................
30 to 50 percent disability rating ..........................................
60 percent or higher disability rating ....................................
Disability rating not reported ................................................
Without service-connected disability ........................................
Presence of disability not reported ...........................................
Other service periods
With service-connected disability .............................................
Less than 30 percent disability rating ..................................
30 to 50 percent disability rating ..........................................
60 percent or higher disability rating ....................................
Disability rating not reported ................................................
Without service-connected disability ........................................
Presence of disability not reported ...........................................

See footnotes at end of table.

Table 4. Employment status of veterans 18 years and over by period of service, presence of service-connected disability,
reported disability rating, and sex, August 2005, not seasonally adjusted—Continued
(Numbers in thousands)
Civilian labor force
Period of service, presence of disability,
reported disability rating, and sex

Civilian
noninstitutional
population

Employed
Total

Percent
of
population

Total

Percent
of
population

Unemployed

Total

Percent
of
labor force

Not in
labor
force

Men
VETERANS
With service-connected disability .............................................
Less than 30 percent disability rating ..................................
30 to 50 percent disability rating ..........................................
60 percent or higher disability rating ....................................
Disability rating not reported ................................................
Without service-connected disability ........................................
Presence of disability not reported ...........................................

2,330
1,096
494
521
219
16,328
3,098

1,127
625
248
157
98
9,091
1,869

48.4
57.0
50.2
30.0
44.8
55.7
60.3

1,080
599
235
157
89
8,736
1,821

46.3
54.7
47.7
30.0
40.5
53.5
58.8

47
25
12
–
9
356
48

4.2
4.1
5.0
–
9.6
3.9
2.6

1,203
471
246
365
121
7,236
1,229

541
269
134
93
45
2,112
600

471
249
115
74
34
1,948
516

87.1
92.5
85.5
78.9
(1)
92.2
85.9

448
242
107
74
25
1,853
490

82.7
90.2
79.7
78.9
(1)
87.7
81.7

24
6
8
–
9
95
25

5.0
2.5
6.8
–
(1)
4.9
4.9

70
20
19
20
11
164
85

1,361
594
277
351
139
9,985
1,721

425
239
81
58
47
4,463
792

31.2
40.3
29.3
16.5
33.5
44.7
46.0

413
229
80
58
47
4,291
787

30.3
38.6
28.7
16.5
33.5
43.0
45.7

12
10
2
–
–
171
5

2.8
4.2
2.0
–
–
3.8
.7

936
355
196
293
92
5,522
929

428
234
82
77
35
4,232
777

231
137
52
25
17
2,681
561

54.0
58.6
62.8
32.5
(1)
63.4
72.3

219
128
49
25
17
2,592
544

51.2
54.7
59.3
32.5
(1)
61.2
70.1

12
9
3
–
–
89
17

5.2
6.6
(1)
–
–
3.3
3.1

197
97
31
52
18
1,551
215

Gulf War era
With service-connected disability .............................................
Less than 30 percent disability rating ..................................
30 to 50 percent disability rating ..........................................
60 percent or higher disability rating ....................................
Disability rating not reported ................................................
Without service-connected disability ........................................
Presence of disability not reported ...........................................
WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam era
With service-connected disability .............................................
Less than 30 percent disability rating ..................................
30 to 50 percent disability rating ..........................................
60 percent or higher disability rating ....................................
Disability rating not reported ................................................
Without service-connected disability ........................................
Presence of disability not reported ...........................................
Other service periods
With service-connected disability .............................................
Less than 30 percent disability rating ..................................
30 to 50 percent disability rating ..........................................
60 percent or higher disability rating ....................................
Disability rating not reported ................................................
Without service-connected disability ........................................
Presence of disability not reported ...........................................

See footnotes at end of table.

Table 4. Employment status of veterans 18 years and over by period of service, presence of service-connected disability,
reported disability rating, and sex, August 2005, not seasonally adjusted—Continued
(Numbers in thousands)
Civilian labor force
Period of service, presence of disability,
reported disability rating, and sex

Civilian
noninstitutional
population

Employed
Total

Percent
of
population

Total

Percent
of
population

Unemployed

Total

Percent
of
labor force

Not in
labor
force

Women
VETERANS
With service-connected disability .............................................
Less than 30 percent disability rating ..................................
30 to 50 percent disability rating ..........................................
60 percent or higher disability rating ....................................
Disability rating not reported ................................................
Without service-connected disability ........................................
Presence of disability not reported ...........................................

201
92
63
40
6
1,122
323

116
61
34
17
5
694
207

57.9
66.2
(1)
(1)
(1)
61.8
64.1

109
56
34
15
4
648
200

54.0
60.6
(1)
(1)
(1)
57.8
62.1

101
385
122

61
274
87

60.3
71.2
71.7

56
253
84

44
332
84

18
114
37

(1)
34.4
43.8

57
405
117

37
305
83

(1)
75.4
70.9

8
5
1
1
46
7

6.8
(1)
–
(1)
(1)
6.6
3.2

85
31
29
23
1
428
116

55.1
65.8
69.2

5
21
3

(1)
7.6
3.4

40
111
35

15
107
34

(1)
32.3
40.1

3
7
3

(1)
6.0
(1)

25
218
47

37
288
82

(1)
71.0
70.4

–
18
1

–
5.9
.6

19
100
34

–

Gulf War era
With service-connected disability .............................................
Without service-connected disability ........................................
Presence of disability not reported ...........................................
WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam era
With service-connected disability .............................................
Without service-connected disability ........................................
Presence of disability not reported ...........................................
Other service periods
With service-connected disability .............................................
Without service-connected disability ........................................
Presence of disability not reported ...........................................

1 Ratios are not shown where the denominator is less than 75,000. Small
estimated levels are based on a small number of survey responses and, thus,
are subject to relatively large standard errors.
NOTE: Veterans are men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces
during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam era, the Gulf War era, and all
other service periods. Nonveterans are men and women who never served in
the U.S. Armed Forces. Other service periods include the periods between

World War II and the Korean War, between the Korean War and the Vietnam
era, and between the Vietnam era and the Gulf War era. A service-connected
disability is a health condition or impairment caused or made worse by military
service. The associated disability rating, which can range from 0 to 100 percent,
is determined from a rating schedule published in the U.S. Code of Federal
Regulations, "Title 38." More detailed information appears in the Technical Note
of this release. Dash represents or rounds to zero.

Table 5. Employed persons 18 years and over by veteran status, period of service, presence of service-connected disability,
and class of worker, August 2005, not seasonally adjusted
Percent distribution by class of worker
Nonagricultural industries
Veteran status, period of service, and
presence of disability

Total
employed
(thousands)

Wage and salary workers
Total

Agriculture
and related
industries

Government
Total

Private
sector

Total

Federal

State
and
local

Selfemployed
and unpaid
family
workers

Veterans 1 ...................................................
With service-connected disability ...........
Without service-connected disability ......

12,594
1,188
9,384

100.0
100.0
100.0

2.5
1.6
2.6

97.5
98.4
97.4

70.8
62.0
71.7

18.5
31.1
16.8

7.2
17.6
5.8

11.3
13.5
11.0

8.3
5.2
8.9

Gulf War era 1 .............................................
With service-connected disability ...........
Without service-connected disability ......

3,184
503
2,106

100.0
100.0
100.0

.8
.7
.6

99.2
99.3
99.4

74.1
62.0
76.8

21.9
35.4
19.2

9.8
23.2
7.6

12.1
12.3
11.6

3.2
1.8
3.4

WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam era 1 ......
With service-connected disability ...........
Without service-connected disability ......

5,647
429
4,399

100.0
100.0
100.0

3.6
3.2
3.6

96.4
96.8
96.4

68.0
59.7
68.4

17.5
27.7
16.6

6.4
12.3
5.4

11.0
15.4
11.2

11.0
9.4
11.4

Other service periods 1 ...............................
With service-connected disability ...........
Without service-connected disability ......

3,762
256
2,879

100.0
100.0
100.0

2.2
.8
2.5

97.8
99.2
97.5

72.2
66.0
73.2

17.1
28.4
15.2

6.0
15.6
5.0

11.1
12.8
10.2

8.6
4.8
9.1

Nonveterans ...............................................

127,926

100.0

1.6

98.4

78.1

13.7

2.1

11.6

6.6

1

Includes veterans who did not report presence of disability.
NOTE: Veterans are men and women who served in the U.S. Armed
Forces during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam era, the Gulf War
era, and all other service periods. Nonveterans are men and women who
never served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Other service periods include the
periods between World War II and the Korean War, between the Korean War

and the Vietnam era, and between the Vietnam era and the Gulf War era. A
service-connected disability is a health condition or impairment caused or
made worse by military service. The associated disability rating, which can
range from 0 to 100 percent, is determined from a rating schedule published
in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, "Title 38." More detailed information
appears in the Technical Note of this release.

Table 6. Employment status of veterans 18 years and over by year of discharge from the Armed Forces, sex, race,
and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, August 2005, not seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
Civilian labor force
Year of discharge, sex, race, and
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Civilian
noninstitutional
population

Employed
Total

Unemployed

Percent
of
population

Total

Percent
of
population

Total

Percent
of
labor force

Not in
labor
force

TOTAL
Prior to 1971 .....................................
1971 to 1980 .....................................
1981 to 1990 .....................................
1991 to 2001 .....................................
2002 to 2005 .....................................
Year not available .............................

9,917
3,497
2,192
2,488
792
4,516

3,042
2,664
1,894
2,200
681
2,624

30.7
76.2
86.4
88.4
86.0
58.1

2,902
2,573
1,834
2,126
600
2,560

29.3
73.6
83.7
85.4
75.8
56.7

140
91
60
75
81
64

4.6
3.4
3.2
3.4
11.9
2.5

6,875
834
298
288
110
1,892

9,638
3,299
1,938
2,100
674
4,108

3,007
2,511
1,673
1,916
606
2,375

31.2
76.1
86.4
91.2
89.9
57.8

2,869
2,427
1,626
1,849
546
2,320

29.8
73.6
83.9
88.1
81.0
56.5

137
84
47
67
60
55

4.6
3.4
2.8
3.5
9.9
2.3

6,632
788
264
184
68
1,732

279
198
254
388
118
408

36
153
220
284
76
249

12.8
77.0
86.7
73.2
64.1
60.9

33
146
208
277
54
240

11.8
73.5
81.7
71.2
45.9
58.8

3
7
13
8
22
9

(1)
4.5
5.7
2.7
28.5
3.6

243
46
34
104
42
160

9,252
3,047
1,792
2,005
631
3,662

2,829
2,320
1,538
1,783
552
2,107

30.6
76.1
85.8
88.9
87.5
57.5

2,705
2,255
1,502
1,716
501
2,060

29.2
74.0
83.8
85.6
79.4
56.2

123
64
37
68
51
47

4.4
2.8
2.4
3.8
9.3
2.2

6,423
728
254
222
79
1,555

448
343
334
343
132
655

143
272
298
295
105
396

32.0
79.3
89.1
85.8
80.0
60.5

131
253
276
289
76
386

29.3
73.8
82.6
84.2
57.6
58.9

12
19
22
5
30
10

8.5
7.0
7.3
1.8
28.0
2.6

305
71
37
49
26
259

285
150
107
129
85
261

63
118
85
109
63
194

22.2
78.6
79.4
84.5
74.3
74.4

54
114
83
108
63
192

18.7
76.4
77.4
83.8
74.3
73.6

10
3
2
1
–
2

(1)
2.8
2.6
.8
–
1.1

222
32
22
20
22
67

Men
Prior to 1971 .....................................
1971 to 1980 .....................................
1981 to 1990 .....................................
1991 to 2001 .....................................
2002 to 2005 .....................................
Year not available .............................
Women
Prior to 1971 .....................................
1971 to 1980 .....................................
1981 to 1990 .....................................
1991 to 2001 .....................................
2002 to 2005 .....................................
Year not available .............................
White
Prior to 1971 .....................................
1971 to 1980 .....................................
1981 to 1990 .....................................
1991 to 2001 .....................................
2002 to 2005 .....................................
Year not available .............................
Black or African American
Prior to 1971 .....................................
1971 to 1980 .....................................
1981 to 1990 .....................................
1991 to 2001 .....................................
2002 to 2005 .....................................
Year not available .............................
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Prior to 1971 .....................................
1971 to 1980 .....................................
1981 to 1990 .....................................
1991 to 2001 .....................................
2002 to 2005 .....................................
Year not available .............................

1 Ratios are not shown where the denominator is less than 75,000. Small
estimated levels are based on a small number of survey responses and,
thus, are subject to relatively large standard errors.
NOTE: Veterans are men and women who served in the U.S. Armed
Forces during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam era, the Gulf War
era, and all other service periods. Nonveterans are men and women who
never served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Other service periods include the
periods between World War II and the Korean War, between the Korean War

and the Vietnam era, and between the the Vietnam era and the Gulf War
era. More detailed information appears in the Technical Note of this release.
Estimates for the above race groups (white and black or African American)
do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all race groups. In
addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be
of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race.
Asians are not shown separately, as most estimates are too small to meet
publication standards. Dash represents or rounds to zero.

Table 7. Employment status of veterans 18 years and over by year of discharge from the Armed Forces, presence of
service-connected disability, and reported disability rating, August 2005, not seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
Civilian labor force
Year of discharge, presence of disability,
and reported disability rating

Civilian
noninstitutional
population

Employed
Total

Percent
of
population

Total

Percent
of
population

Unemployed

Total

Percent
of
labor force

Not in
labor
force

Prior to 1976
With service-connected disability .............................................
Less than 30 percent disability rating ..................................
30 to 50 percent disability rating ..........................................
60 percent or higher disability rating ....................................
Disability rating not reported ................................................
Without service-connected disability ........................................

1,235
587
231
297
120
10,859

317
183
51
46
36
4,335

25.6
31.2
22.3
15.4
30.1
39.9

304
175
48
46
35
4,154

24.6
29.8
20.9
15.4
29.0
38.3

13
8
3
–
1
181

4.0
4.4
(1)
(1)
(1)
4.2

918
404
179
251
84
6,523

471
231
125
96
18
3,002

275
174
71
18
12
2,654

58.4
75.4
56.8
18.5
(1)
88.4

261
162
70
18
12
2,571

55.5
70.0
55.9
18.5
(1)
85.6

14
12
1
–
–
83

5.0
7.1
(1)
–
–
3.1

196
57
54
78
7
348

579
289
135
119
36
1,905

475
266
103
80
25
1,724

82.0
92.2
76.5
67.5
(1)
90.5

467
263
99
80
25
1,658

80.7
91.0
73.3
67.5
(1)
87.0

8
3
4
–
–
67

1.6
1.3
4.2
–
–
3.9

104
23
32
39
11
181

167
58
58
39
12
612

143
50
52
29
12
525

85.7
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
85.8

122
43
48
28
2
474

73.0
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
77.4

21
7
3
1
9
51

14.8
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
9.8

24
8
6
10
1
87

1976 to 1990
With service-connected disability .............................................
Less than 30 percent disability rating ..................................
30 to 50 percent disability rating ..........................................
60 percent or higher disability rating ....................................
Disability rating not reported ................................................
Without service-connected disability ........................................
1991 to 2001
With service-connected disability .............................................
Less than 30 percent disability rating ..................................
30 to 50 percent disability rating ..........................................
60 percent or higher disability rating ....................................
Disability rating not reported ................................................
Without service-connected disability ........................................
2002 to 2005
With service-connected disability .............................................
Less than 30 percent disability rating ..................................
30 to 50 percent disability rating ..........................................
60 percent or higher disability rating ....................................
Disability rating not reported ................................................
Without service-connected disability ........................................

1 Ratios are not shown where the denominator is less than 75,000. Small
estimated levels are based on a small number of survey responses and, thus,
are subject to relatively large standard errors.
NOTE: Veterans are men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces
during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam era, the Gulf War era, and
all other service periods. Nonveterans are men and women who never served
in the U.S. Armed Forces. Other service periods include the periods between
World War II and the Korean War, between the Korean War and the Vietnam
era, and between the Vietnam era and the Gulf War era. Categories do not

add to totals shown on other tables because data are not shown for veterans
whose presence of disability was not reported, and because information on the
year of discharge was not available for approximately 4.5 million veterans. A
service-connected disability is a health condition or impairment caused or
made worse by military service. The associated disability rating, which can
range from 0 to 100 percent, is determined from a rating schedule published in
the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, "Title 38." More detailed information
appears in the Technical Note of this release. Dash represents or rounds to
zero.

Table 8. Employment status of Gulf War era veterans by detailed period of service, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity, August 2005
Civilian labor force
Period of service, sex, race,
and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Civilian
noninstitutional
population

Employed
Total

Percent
of
population

Total

Percent
of
population

Unemployed

Total

Percent
of
labor force

Not in
labor
force

TOTAL
Gulf War era, total ................................................
Gulf War era I .....................................................
Gulf War era II ....................................................

3,861
2,770
1,091

3,358
2,447
910

87.0
88.4
83.4

3,184
2,360
824

82.5
85.2
75.5

173
87
86

5.2
3.6
9.5

503
322
181

3,253
2,324
930

2,935
2,110
825

90.2
90.8
88.8

2,791
2,035
756

85.8
87.6
81.4

144
75
69

4.9
3.6
8.3

318
214
104

608
446
162

422
337
85

69.5
75.6
52.6

393
326
68

64.7
73.0
41.7

29
12
18

6.9
3.4
20.6

185
109
77

3,047
2,180
868

2,680
1,951
730

88.0
89.5
84.1

2,551
1,877
674

83.7
86.1
77.7

129
74
55

4.8
3.8
7.6

367
229
138

614
443
170

506
370
136

82.4
83.5
79.6

466
358
108

75.9
80.8
63.1

40
12
28

7.9
3.2
20.7

108
73
35

51
33
18

38
26
12

(1)
(1)
(1)

35
26
9

(1)
(1)
(1)

2

(1)
(1)
(1)

13
7
6

284
203
80

241
184
57

85.0
90.8
70.5

240
184
57

84.7
90.3
70.5

.3
.5
–

43
19
24

Men
Gulf War era, total ................................................
Gulf War era I .....................................................
Gulf War era II ....................................................
Women
Gulf War era, total ................................................
Gulf War era I .....................................................
Gulf War era II ....................................................
White
Gulf War era, total ................................................
Gulf War era I .....................................................
Gulf War era II ....................................................
Black or African American
Gulf War era, total ................................................
Gulf War era I .....................................................
Gulf War era II ....................................................
Asian
Gulf War era, total ................................................
Gulf War era I .....................................................
Gulf War era II ....................................................

–
2

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Gulf War era, total ................................................
Gulf War era I .....................................................
Gulf War era II ....................................................

1 Ratios are not shown where the denominator is less than 75,000.
Small estimated levels are based on a small number of survey
responses and, thus, are subject to relatively large standard errors.
NOTE: Veterans of the Gulf War era are those who served from
August 1990 to the present. The era has been divided into two
sub-eras: Gulf War era I from August 1990 to August 2001 and Gulf War
era II from September 2001 to the present. Veterans who served in

1
1
–

both sub-eras are classified in the more recent one (sub-era II). More
detailed information appears in the Technical Note of this release.
Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American,
and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all
race groups. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as
Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by
ethnicity as well as by race.

Table 9. Employment status of veterans with multiple wartime periods of service by selected combinations of periods,
August 2005
Civilian labor force

Periods of service

Total with multiple wartime periods of service ......
Gulf War era and Vietnam era ............................
Vietnam era and Korean war ..............................
Korean war and World War II .............................

Civilian
noninstitutional
population

812
259
206
286

Employed
Total

264
200
46
17

NOTE: Wartime veterans are men and women who served in the U.S.
Armed Forces during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam era, or
the Gulf War era. Categories do not add to totals because not all

Unemployed

Percent
of
population

Total

Percent
of
population

Total

Percent
of
labor force

32.6
77.2
22.1
5.9

258
194
46
16

31.8
75.1
22.1
5.7

6
5
–
–

2.3
2.8
–
–

Not in
labor
force

547
59
161
269

combinations are shown. More detailed information appears in the
Technical Note of this release. Dash represents or rounds to zero.