Issues and Campaigns

Employ the Next Greatest Generation

Loyalty. Discipline. Respect. Leadership. These are values that any employer would like to see in new employees—and these are the values that make new veterans our country's new greatest generation. Yet America’s newest veterans face serious employment challenges. In 2011, the average unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans was a staggering 12.1 percent. To address this critical issue IAVA helped pass the VOW to Hire Heroes Act, the only employment bill to emerge from Congress and be signed into law by the President in 2011. The bill encourages veteran hiring through tax incentives and prepares service members for the transition to civilian careers by addressing civilian credentialing and licensing issues; reforming and making mandatory the Transition Assistance Program (TAP); and allowing transitioning service members to gain job experience and complete apprenticeships before leaving active duty.

In January, the Iraq and Afghanistan-era veteran unemployment rate hit a staggering 15.2 percent while the national unemployment rate was 9.0 percent. Approximately 278,000 new veterans were out of work and looking for jobs.   

This continues the pattern that we’ve seen for more than three years now. Unemployment rates for new veterans are high and rising. In 2008, the average unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan-era veterans was 7.3 percent, and in 2009 this number rose to 10.2 percent.  In 2010, the average unemployment rate of new veterans was 11.5 percent.

WHAT IAVA IS DOING

Employing the next Greatest Generation continues to be IAVA's top priority, and we're responding in a number of ways to stem the jobless rate:

1. On Capitol Hill, IAVA is advocating for bipartisan legislation that will bring some much-needed relief to unemployed veterans. Click here to read IAVA's Issue Report Careers After Combat.
2. In the private sector, IAVA is partnering with companies like Microsoft, JC Penney and Joseph Abboud to launch historic and innovative programs providing essential job training and resources for America's heroes.
3. Inside Community of Veterans, our online social network exclusively for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, job listings and unemployment resources are updated on a regular basis, connecting veterans with opportunities across the country. If you're an OIF/OEF Veteran, click here to learn more and join the community.

STATEMENTS AND ANALYSIS

• Jobless Rate Skyrockets to 15.2% for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans
• Unemployment Rate for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Highest Ever Reported
• No Good News on Veterans' Job Numbers

CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS

• IAVA Joins with Microsoft on Bold Jobs' Initiative
• Historic Partnership with JC Penney, JAApparel Provides Much Needed Job Support for Thousands

MEDIA AND PRESS

• USA Today: Female veterans struggle in job market
• MTV: IAVA Joins New York football greats to put together combat to career care packages

We'll be fighting to ensure all our heros have jobs all year long. And with your continued support, we can ensure that veterans come home to a nation that values their experience, not to an unemployment check.

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