The Job Market Experiences of Gulf War II Era Veterans

The Job Market Experiences of Gulf War II Era Veterans Paul E. Harrington Center for Labor Markets and Policy Drexel University

Jan 2001 May 2001 Sep 2001 Jan 2002 May 2002 Sep 2002 Jan 2003 May 2003 Sep 2003 Jan 2004 May 2004 Sep 2004 Jan 2005 May 2005 Sep 2005 Jan 2006 May 2006 Sep 2006 Jan 2007 May 2007 Sep 2007 Jan 2008 May 2008 Sep 2008 Jan 2009 May 2009 Sep 2009 Jan 2010 May 2010 Sep 2010 Jan 2011 May 2011 Sep 2011 Jan 2012 May 2012 Sep 2012 Employment 140000 138000 136000 Trends in Total Monthly Non Agricultural Wage and Salary Employment in US, 2001 to 2012 (seasonally adjusted, in thousands) 134000 132000 130000 128000 126000 124000 Month

Trends in Non Farm Payroll Losses Associated with the Great Recession, by Major Industry Sector Super Sector December 2007 February 2010 Absolute Relative Total Nonfarm 137,982 129,244-8,738-6% Construction 7,490 5,529-1,961-26% Manufacturing 13,743 11,462-2,281-17% Trade, transportation, and utilities 26,714 24,537-2,177-8% Information 3,024 2,734-290 -10% Financial activities 8,224 7,660-564 -7% Professional and business services 18,051 16,542-1,509-8% Educational services 2,976 3,111 135 5% Health care and social assistance 15,578 16,282 704 5% Other 5,516 5,317-199 -4% Government 22,376 22,471 95 0%

Trends in Post Recession Non Farm Wage and Salary Employment Super Sector February 2010 September 2012 Absolute Relative Total Nonfarm 129,244 133,500 4,256 3.3% Contruction 5,529 5,523-6 -0.1% Manufacturing 11,462 11,942 480 4.2% Trade, transportation, and utilities 24,537 25,386 849 3.5% Information 2,734 2,632-102 -3.7% Financial activities 7,660 7,758 98 1.3% Professional and business services 16,542 17,956 1,414 8.5% Educational services 3,111 3,338 227 7.3% Health care and social assistance 16,282 17,070 788 4.8% Other 5,317 5,385 68 1.3% Government 22,471 22,001-470 -2.1%

Trends in Non Farm Payroll Employment in the U.S during the Great Recession and Subsequent Recovery, by State State Dec 2007 Feb 2010 Sep 2012 2007-2010 2010-2012 Relative Absolute Absolute Relative Ratio of s Nevada 1,293 1,118 1,136-175.2-13.5% 18.2 1.6% 10.4% Arizona 2,677 2,379 2,470-297.9-11.1% 90.2 3.8% 30.3% Florida 7,950 7,154 7,350-796.3-10.0% 196.2 2.7% 24.6% Michigan 4,245 3,832 3,983-412.8-9.7% 150.4 3.9% 36.4% California 15,191 13,842 14,348-1348.4-8.9% 505.6 3.7% 37.5% Oregon 1,738 1,591 1,632-147.5-8.5% 40.8 2.6% 27.7% Idaho 657 602 619-54.5-8.3% 16.8 2.8% 30.8% Georgia 4,150 3,819 3,942-331.6-8.0% 123.4 3.2% 37.2% South Carolina 1,951 1,797 1,861-153.4-7.9% 63.1 3.5% 41.1%

State Dec 2007 Feb 2010 Sep 2012 2007-2010 2010-2012 Absolute Relative Absolute Relative Ratio of s North Carolina 4,177 3,850 3,953-326.3-7.8% 102.6 2.7% 31.4% Alabama 2,015 1,860 1,878-155.1-7.7% 18.5 1.0% 11.9% Ohio 5,420 5,005 5,177-415.6-7.7% 172.4 3.4% 41.5% Tennessee 2,806 2,595 2,685-211.1-7.5% 90.5 3.5% 42.9% Delaware 441 408 416-33.1-7.5% 8.5 2.1% 25.7% Utah 1,265 1,172 1,239-93.4-7.4% 66.8 5.7% 71.5% Indiana 2,987 2,774 2,900-213 -7.1% 125.4 4.5% 58.9% Hawaii 628 585 606-43.3-6.9% 21.1 3.6% 48.7% Illinois 5,988 5,592 5,712-396.2-6.6% 119.8 2.1% 30.2%

State Dec 2007 Feb 2010 Sep 2012 2007-2010 2010-2012 Relative Absolute Absolute Relative Ratio of s Mississippi 1,159 1,084 1,085-74.8-6.5% 1.1 0.1% 1.5% Rhode Island 489 457 458-31.4-6.4% 0.8 0.2% 2.5% Washington 2,963 2,773 2,881-189.9-6.4% 107.6 3.9% 56.7% Kentucky 1,869 1,751 1,841-118.2-6.3% 90 5.1% 76.1% New Jersey 4,085 3,844 3,905-241 -5.9% 61.1 1.6% 25.4% Wisconsin 2,882 2,715 2,729-167.3-5.8% 14.7 0.5% 8.8% Colorado 2,350 2,215 2,300-135.4-5.8% 85.4 3.9% 63.1% New Mexico 849 802 795-46.8-5.5% -7.7-1.0% 16.5% Maryland 2,614 2,473 2,581-141 -5.4% 108.8 4.4% 77.2%

State Dec 2007 Feb 2010 Sep 2012 2007-2010 2010-2012 Relative Absolute Absolute Relative Ratio of s Minnesota 2,772 2,626 2,714-145.6-5.3% 87.6 3.3% 60.2% Arkansas 1,208 1,150 1,166-57.8-4.8% 15.7 1.4% 27.2% Kansas 1,386 1,321 1,348-65.4-4.7% 27.5 2.1% 42.0% Virginia 3,767 3,593 3,723-174.2-4.6% 129.4 3.6% 74.3% Maine 621 592 596-28.5-4.6% 3.7 0.6% 13.0% Wyoming 294 281 289-13.4-4.6% 8.2 2.9% 61.2% Montana 447 427 434-19.8-4.4% 7.5 1.8% 37.9% New Hampshire 650 622 626-27.7-4.3% 3.5 0.6% 12.6% Pennsylvania 5,813 5,570 5,734-242.6-4.2% 164 2.9% 67.6%

State Dec 2007 Feb 2010 Sep 2012 2007-2010 2010-2012 Relative Absolute Absolute Relative Ratio of s Oklahoma 1,580 1,519 1,597-61.4-3.9% 78.1 5.1% 127.2% Massachuset ts 3,293 3,175 3,250-118 -3.6% 74.8 2.4% 63.4% Louisiana 1,935 1,873 1,939-61.6-3.2% 65.3 3.5% 106.0% New York 8,784 8,511 8,825-273 -3.1% 313.6 3.7% 114.9% Nebraska 964 936 958-27.4-2.8% 22.1 2.4% 80.7% West Virginia 760 739 748-21.3-2.8% 8.5 1.2% 39.9% Texas 10,529 10,245 10,858-284.1-2.7% 612.4 6.0% 215.6% South Dakota 408 400 408-8.1-2.0% 7.4 1.8% 91.4% Alaska 319 322 331 2.5 0.8% 8.9 2.8% 356.0%

Civilian Noninstitutional Population TOTAL 2008 2011 Absolute Difference Relative Difference Gulf War II Veterans 1653 2387 734 44.4% All other Veterans 20776 19226-1550 -7.5% Nonveterans 202226 209278 7052 3.5% MALE Gulf War II Veterans 1359 1982 623 45.8% All other Veterans 19353 17830-1523 -7.9% Nonveterans 87776 92019 4243 4.8% FEMALE Gulf War II Veterans 294 405 111 37.8% All other Veterans 1424 1396-28 -2.0% Nonveterans 114450 117259 2809 2.5%

Civilian Labor Force TOTAL 2008 2011 Absolute Difference Relative Difference Gulf War II Veterans 1406 1937 531 37.8% All other Veterans 10962 9383-1579 -14.4% Nonveterans 139366 140424 1058 0.8% MALE Gulf War II Veterans 1193 1656 463 38.8% All other Veterans 10060 8548-1512 -15.0% Nonveterans 70028 70854 826 1.2% FEMALE Gulf War II Veterans 212 281 69 32.5% All other Veterans 903 835-68 -7.5% Nonveterans 69338 69570 232 0.3%

Employed TOTAL 2008 2011 Absolute Difference Relative Difference Gulf War II Veterans 1303 1704 401 30.8% All other Veterans 10492 8671-1821 -17.4% Nonveterans 131578 128140-3438 -2.6% MALE Gulf War II Veterans 1109 1457 348 31.4% All other Veterans 9630 7903-1727 -17.9% Nonveterans 65821 64280-1541 -2.3% FEMALE Gulf War II Veterans 194 246 52 26.8% All other Veterans 863 769-94 -10.9% Nonveterans 65757 63859-1898 -2.9%

Unemployed TOTAL 2008 2011 Absolute Difference Relative Difference Gulf War II Veterans 103 234 131 127.2% All other Veterans 383 749 366 95.6% Nonveterans 7788 12284 4496 57.7% MALE Gulf War II Veterans 84 199 115 136.9% All other Veterans 346 693 347 100.3% Nonveterans 4207 6573 2366 56.2% FEMALE Gulf War II Veterans 19 35 16 84.2% All other Veterans 36 56 20 55.6% Nonveterans 3581 5710 2129 59.5%

Not in Labor Force TOTAL 2008 2011 Absolute Difference Relative Difference Gulf War II Veterans 247 450 203 82.2% All other Veterans 9814 9843 29 0.3% Nonveterans 62859 68854 5995 9.5% MALE Gulf War II Veterans 166 327 161 97.0% All other Veterans 9292 9281-11 -0.1% Nonveterans 17748 21166 3418 19.3% FEMALE Gulf War II Veterans 81 123 42 51.9% All other Veterans 522 562 40 7.7% Nonveterans 45112 47689 2577 5.7%

% Participation Total Civilian Labor Force Participation Rate 90.0 Civilian Labor Force Participation Rate 80.0 70.0 60.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 All Other Veterans Gulf War II Era Veterans Non Veterans 20.0 10.0 0.0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year

% Participation Men Civilian Labor Force Participation Rate 100.0 Civilian Labor Force Participation Rate for Men 90.0 80.0 70.0 60.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 All Other Veterans Gulf War II Era Veterans Non Veterans 20.0 10.0 0.0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year

% Participation Women Civilian Labor Force Participation Rate 80.0 Civilian Labor Force Participation Rate for Women 70.0 60.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 All Other Veterans Gulf War II Era Veterans Non Veterans 20.0 10.0 0.0 2007.5 2008 2008.5 2009 2009.5 2010 2010.5 2011 2011.5 Year

% Total Employment-population Ratio 90.0 Employment-population Ratio 80.0 70.0 60.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 All Other Veterans Gulf War II Era Veterans Non Veterans 20.0 10.0 0.0 2007.5 2008 2008.5 2009 2009.5 2010 2010.5 2011 2011.5 Year

% Men Employment-population Ratio 90.0 Employment-population Ratio for Men 80.0 70.0 60.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 All Other Veterans Gulf War II Era Veterans Non Veterans 20.0 10.0 0.0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year

% Women Employment-population Ratio 70.0 Employment-population Ratio for Women 60.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 20.0 All Other Veterans Gulf War II Era Veterans Non Veterans 10.0 0.0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year

% Total Unemployment Rate 14.0 Unemployment Rate 12.0 10.0 8.0 6.0 4.0 All Other Veterans Gulf War II Era Veterans Non Veterans 2.0 0.0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year

% Men Unemployment Rate 14.0 Unemployment Rate for Men 12.0 10.0 8.0 6.0 4.0 All Other Veterans Gulf War II Era Veterans Non Veterans 2.0 0.0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year

% Women Unemployment Rate 14.0 Unemployment Rate for Women 12.0 10.0 8.0 6.0 4.0 All Other Veterans Gulf War II Era Veterans Non Veterans 2.0 0.0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year

90.0% Labor Force Status of the Gult War II Veteran an non Veteran Population Aged 17 to 34 in the U.S., 2011 80.0% 70.0% 79.8% 77.9% 67.0% 69.4% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 16.0% 11.0% 26% 22.1% 0.0% CLFPR E/P RATIO UR LF UNDERUTIL RATE Gulf II Vets Non Vets

90.0% 80.0% 70.0% Labor Force Status of Gulf War II Veterans and Non Veterans Aged 35 and Oldeer in the U.S., 2011 83.8% 76.6% 79.3% 71.3% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 5.4% 7.0% 10.3% 14.4% 0.0% CLFPR E/P RATIO UR LF UNDERUTIL RATE Gulf II Vets Non Vets

Trends in the Labor Force Participation Rate of Gulf War II Veterans in the U.S., by Gender and Race/Ethnicity, 2008 to 2011 Gulf II Veterans 2008 2011 Absolute Relative All 84.9 81.0-3.9-4.6% Male 87.7 83.4-4.3-4.9% Female 72.0 69.3-2.8-3.9% White 85.4 81.6-3.8-4.4% Black 82.4 79.7-2.7-3.3% Asian 96.8 75.6-21.2-21.9% Hispanic 82.8 83.3 0.5 0.6% Other 87.3 67.4-19.9-22.8%

Trends in the Labor Force Participation Rate of Non Veterans in the U.S., by Gender and Race/Ethnicity, 2008 to 2011 Non Vets 2008 2011 Absolute Relative All 68.2 66.3-1.9-2.7% Male 78.6 75.8-2.8-3.6% Female 60.1 58.8-1.3-2.2% White 68.4 66.6-1.8-2.6% Black 65.1 62.9-2.2-3.4% Asian 67.8 65.3-2.4-3.6% Hispanic 69.9 67.9-2.0-2.8% Other 65.8 64.3-1.5-2.2%

Labor Force Participation Rate of Gulf War II Veterans and Non Veterans in the U.S., by Educational Attainment 2011 Gulf II Vets Non Vets All 81.0 66.3 Male 83.4 75.8 Female 69.3 58.8 White 81.6 66.6 Black 79.7 62.9 Asian 75.6 65.3 Hispanic 83.3 67.9 Other 67.4 64.3

Employment to Population Ratio of Gulf War II Veterans and non Veterans in the U.S., by Gender and Race/Ethnicity2011 E/P Gulf II Vets Non Vets Total 78.6 71.2 Male 81.5 73.4 Female 65.7 60.7 White 79.4 73.0 Black 75.0 68.7 Asian 94.3 70.9 Hispanic 77.4 69.1 Other 77.6 52.9

Unemployment Rate of Gulf War II Veterans and non Veterans in the U.S., by Gender and Race/Ethnicity2011 UR Gulf II Vets Non Vets Total 12.1 8.9 Male 12.0 9.4 Female 12.4 8.3 White 10.6 7.1 Black 13.8 16.1 Asian 6.3 7.1 Hispanic 17.0 11.4 Other 21.5 13.1

Underutilization Rate of Gulf War II Veterans and non Veterans in the U.S., by Age, 2011 Uutilrate Gulf II Vets Non Vets Total 19.2 17.7 Male 18.8 17.7 Female 21.5 17.7 White 17.3 14.5 Black 21.4 27.5 Asian 18.1 15.0 Hispanic 23.4 24.0 Other 37.1 24.4

Trends in the Labor Force Participation Rate of Gulf War II Veterans in the U.S., by Age, 2008 to 2011 LFPR Gulf II Veterans 2008 2011 Absolute Relative 20-24 81.2 72.7-8.5-10.5% 25-29 83.8 80.5-3.3-3.9% 30-34 88.1 83.6-4.6-5.2% 35-44 90.5 86.8-3.7-4.1% 45-54 88.5 84.8-3.7-4.2% 55-64 76.2 68.6-7.6-10.0%

Trends in the Labor Force Participation Rate of Non Veterans in the U.S., by Age, 2008 to 2011 LFPR Non Vets 2008 2011 Absolute Relative 20-24 74.2 71.3-3.0-4.0% 25-29 83.0 81.2-1.8-2.2% 30-34 83.4 81.8-1.6-1.9% 35-44 83.6 82.3-1.3-1.5% 45-54 81.7 80.5-1.2-1.4% 55-64 64.4 65.2 0.7 1.2%

Labor Force Participation Rate of Gulf War II Veterans and non Veterans in the U.S., by Age, 2011 Gulf II Vets Non Vets 20-24 72.7 71.3 25-29 80.5 81.2 30-34 83.6 81.8 35-44 86.8 82.3 45-54 84.8 80.5 55-64 68.6 65.2

Employment to Population Ratio of Gulf War II Veterans and non Veterans in the U.S., by Age, 2011 E/P Gulf II Vets Non Vets 20-24 50.9 60.8 25-29 67.8 72.8 30-34 75.4 74.9 35-44 81.6 76.6 45-54 81.4 75.0 55-64 63.2 60.0

Unemployment Rate of Gulf War II Veterans and non Veterans in the U.S., by Age, 2011 Gulf II Vets Non Vets 20-24 29.9 14.4 25-29 15.8 10.1 30-34 9.8 8.6 35-44 6.1 7.3 45-54 4.1 7.0 55-64 7.8 6.5

Underutilization Rate of Gulf War II Veterans and non Veterans in the U.S., by Age, 2011 uutrate Gulf II Vets Non Vets 20-24 43.1 28.4 25-29 24.3 19.4 30-34 15.9 16.1 35-44 11.2 14.4 45-54 7.5 13.9 55-64 14.6 13.8

Trends in the Labor Force Participation Rate of Gulf War II Veterans in the U.S., by Educational Attainment 2008 to 2011 LFPR Gulf II Veterans <12 or 12, No H.S. Diploma H.S. Diploma/GED Some College Bachelor Degree Master's or Higher Degree 2008 2011 Absolute Relative 66.2 60.9-5.3-8.0% 86.0 79.3-6.7-7.8% 82.9 78.3-4.6-5.6% 88.1 88.1 0.1 0.1% 90.4 90.9 0.5 0.5%

Trends in the Labor Force Participation Rate of Non Veterans in the U.S., by Educational Attainment 2008 to 2011 LFPR Non Vets <12 or 12, No H.S. Diploma H.S. Diploma/GED 2008 2011 Absolute Relative 47.1 45.0-2.1-5% 65.3 62.8-2.5-4% Some College 72.4 69.9-2.5-3% Bachelor Degree 79.6 78.0-1.6-2% Master's or Higher Degree 80.9 79.5-1.4-2%

Labor Force Participation Rate of Gulf War II Veterans and Non Veterans in the U.S., by Educational Attainment 2011 LFPR Gulf II Veterans Non Vets <12 or 12, No H.S. Diploma 60.9 45.0 H.S. Diploma/GED 79.3 62.8 Some College 78.3 69.9 Bachelor Degree 88.1 78.0 Master's or Higher Degree 90.9 79.5

Employment to Population Ratio of Gulf War II Veterans and Non Veterans in the U.S., by Educational Attainment 2011 E/P Gulf II Vets Non Vets <12 or 12, No H.S. Diploma 51.5 37.2 H.S. Diploma/GED 66.2 55.8 Some College 68.2 63.9 Bachelor Degree 82.1 74.0 Master's or Higher Degree 86.1 76.9

Unemployment Rate of Gulf War II Veterans and Non Veterans in the U.S., by Educational Attainment 2011 UR Gulf II Vets Non Vets <12 or 12, No H.S. Diploma 15.4 17.2 H.S. Diploma/GED 16.5 11.2 Some College 12.9 8.6 Bachelor Degree 6.9 5.1 Master's or Higher Degree 5.2 3.3

Underutilization Rate of Gulf War II Veterans and Non Veterans in the U.S., by Educational Attainment 2011 uutrate Gulf II Vets Non Vets <12 or 12, No H.S. Diploma 35.5 33.5 H.S. Diploma/GED 25.0 21.9 Some College 20.6 17.0 Bachelor Degree 11.3 10.2 Master's or Higher Degree 8.5 6.9