The Department of Labor reported that the unemployment rate
for veterans ages 20-24 was more than 15 percent in July
2005, the last month for which data was available, while
non veterans in the same age category had an unemployment
rate of just under 8 percent. The number of young
unemployed veterans has grown dramatically since the start
of military operations in Afghanistan. That trend caused
the chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
to express frustration to the Department of Labor’s
Assistant Secretary for Veterans’ Employment and Training
Charles Ciccolella. “This trend of rising unemployment
suggests to me that we — as a nation — must do more to
help these young veterans succeed in the civilian job
market, said Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, Feb. 2. “Much of
that help must continue to come from leaders in the
business community and in the public sector who recognize
the distinct advantages of hiring former service members.”