National Unemployment Rate: 9.1%
National Post-9/11 Veterans' Unemployment Rate: 11.5%
Published in a 2010 report issued by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, post-9/11 veterans consistently face a higher unemployment rate than the wider veteran population. Due to the economic downturn and companies' fear about veterans' mental health, soldiers who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have returned to a more competitive job market, where it is harder to translate their skills into work.
With the national unemployment rate at 9.1 percent and the national post-9/11 veterans' unemployment rate at 11.5 percent, it becomes apparent that new veterans have a more difficult time finding work after returning from deployment than civilians. As reported by the Associated Press in November 2011, President Barack Obama has encouraged Congress to pass new legislation that would give tax credits to companies that hire veterans who are injured or have been out of work.
This map is included courtesy of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of American organization, which operates the Combat to Career campaign to help curb veteran unemployment.