U.S. Department of Commerce

Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

census.gov

Employment Status and Occupations 

of Gulf War-Era Veterans

American Community Survey Briefs

Issued November 2014

ACSBR/13-22

By Kelly Holder

INTRODUCTION 

The focus of this analysis is on veterans who served on 

active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces only from August 

1990 or later.1

Gulf War-era veterans who served since 1990 are the 

most recent cohort of wartime veterans and make up 

about 35 percent of the current working-age veteran 

population (see Figure 1).2 They are also a large and 

growing segment of the veteran population, making 

them a cohort of particular interest, but about which 

minimal economic research has been done. Much of 

the past research on post-military economic outcomes 

of wartime veterans focused on Vietnam-era and 

World War II veterans. Very few, if any, World War II and 

Korean War veterans are still in the labor force—none 

are in the working-age population defined here—and 

the majority of the Vietnam-era veterans are nearing 

retirement age.

Veterans who entered the Armed Forces after 1990 

also had a substantially different military experience 

than their predecessors. During the 1990s, significant 

changes in legislation and policy opened up over 80 

percent of the services’ career positions to military 

servicewomen. The nature of the wars in Afghanistan 

and Iraq also changed the kind of work done by men 

and women in the Armed Forces. The occupational 

experiences of Gulf War-era veterans while in the 

military could be expected to have some impact on 

the kinds of occupations they hold once they leave 

the military. 

1 According to Title 38, U.S. Code, the Gulf War refers to the entire 

period beginning on August 2, 1990, and ending “on the date thereafter prescribed by Presidential proclamation or by law.” 2 In this analysis, “working-age” refers to the population 18 to 

64 years old. 

The data used in this report are from 2011–2013 

American Community Survey (ACS) 3-year estimates. 

This report presents data on the employment situation 

of noninstitutionalized post-1990 Gulf War-era veterans, 18 to 64 years old, living in the United States. 

Where appropriate, noninstitutionalized nonveterans 

18 to 64 years old are included as a reference group. 

GULF WAR-ERA VETERANS

A veteran is defined as an individual who has 

served (even for a short time), but is not now 

serving, on active duty in the U.S. Army, Navy, 

Air Force, Marine Corps, or the Coast Guard.

The Gulf War Era is defined by two distinct 

periods on the ACS questionnaire (see Figure 9). 

Veterans in this analysis are classified in their 

most recent wartime period. Veterans who only 

served in the period “August 1990 to August 

2001” are considered Gulf War I veterans for 

this analysis. Veterans who served “September 

2001 or later” only or in both “August 1990 to 

August 2001” and “September 2001 or later” are 

considered Gulf War II veterans for this analysis. Veterans who served in either period but 

also in some earlier period are Gulf War veterans, 

but were not included in this analysis because 

they entered the military prior to August 1990. 

The ACS period of military service question only 

captures time in service, not place. The veterans 

who served in the Armed Forces after August 

1990 are considered “Gulf War-era” even if they 

did not serve in the Persian Gulf region.
2 U.S. Census Bureau

There are numerous reasons why 

veterans and nonveterans have 

disparate economic outcomes: age, 

race and Hispanic origin, education, citizenship, and selectivity 

bias of those pursuing military 

service being a few.3 These differences and the interactions between 

these characteristics are not fully 

explored in this report. However, 

nonveterans are shown to offer 

some perspective for this unique 

population of veterans. 

3 Alfred O. Gottschalck and Kelly A. 

Holder, “We Want You! The Role of Human 

Capital in Explaining the Veteran-Non Veteran 

Earnings Differential” (working paper, 

U.S. Census Bureau, February 23, 2009).

DESCRIPTION OF GULF WARERA VETERANS

The Gulf War I cohort of veterans is 

a predominantly stable population 

(see Figure 2). Because the definition used in this analysis classifies 

veterans in their most recent period 

of service, all Gulf War I veterans 

would have left the military prior to 

September 11, 2001. In contrast, 

the Gulf War II cohort is still growing each year as service members 

transition to veterans. 

Since the beginning of the All 

Volunteer Force, which began 

in 1973, the number of women 

serving in the military has risen 

dramatically. Women make up a 

larger share of the Gulf War-era 

cohorts than any previous wartime 

cohorts. About 16 percent of Gulf 

War I veterans and 19 percent of 

Gulf War II veterans were women in 

2011–2013. 

Gulf War I veterans, by definition, 

are nearly a decade older than Gulf 

War II veterans (see Table 1). The 

median age of working-age Gulf 

War I men in 2011–2013 was 40.1 

years, compared with 30.9 years 

for Gulf War II men. For women, the 

median ages were 39.7 years and 

30.7 years, respectively. Because 

the Gulf War I cohort is stable at 

this point, these veterans are aging 

as a group. For Gulf War II, on the 

other hand, there is a constant 

Figure 1.

Working-Age Veteran Population by Period of Service

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 3-year estimates, 2011–2013.

Gulf War II Gulf War I All other*

*All other includes Gulf War-era who also served in peacetime prior to 1990, Vietnam-era, and peace-time only veterans.

18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64

Thousands

0

150

300

450

600

750

Age
U.S. Census Bureau 3

inflow of new, relatively young 

veterans entering this population 

every year. Gulf War I men were 

also older than nonveteran men 

of working age (40.1 years compared with 39.7 years). For women, 

nonveterans were the oldest group 

with a median age of 41.6 years.

A higher percentage of Gulf War I 

men were White, non-Hispanic (69.1 

percent) in 2011–2013, compared 

with Gulf War II and nonveteran 

men (67.8 percent and 62.8 percent, respectively). Gulf War I men 

were also more likely to be Black, 

non-Hispanic and less likely to be 

Hispanic, compared with Gulf War II 

and nonveteran men.

Gulf War-era female veterans were 

more racially diverse than nonveteran women. About a quarter of Gulf War I and Gulf War II 

women were Black, non-Hispanic, 

compared with 12.9 percent of 

nonveteran women.4 A higher percentage of nonveteran women were 

Hispanic than both cohorts of Gulf 

War women (15.9 percent compared with 9.2 percent and 13.7 

percent, respectively).

Gulf War-era men and women had 

higher educational attainment than 

nonveteran men and women 18 to 

64 years old. Nearly half had completed some college education but 

no degree, however, male veterans 

were less likely than nonveterans 

to have completed a Bachelor’s 

degree or higher. Gulf War I and 

Gulf War II women had the highest percentages with a Bachelor’s 

degree or higher (36.2 percent of 

Gulf War I and 31.1 percent of Gulf 

War II) (see Table 1). 

EMPLOYMENT OF GULF 

WAR-ERA VETERANS

Among working-age men in 2011–

2013, a higher percentage of Gulf 

War I male veterans (83.9 percent) 

were employed, compared with 

Gulf War II male veterans (77.9 percent). Both cohorts of Gulf War-era 

men were more likely to be 

employed than nonveteran men 

(74.9 percent) (see Figure 3). Gulf 

War I women were also more likely 

to be employed than their Gulf 

War II and nonveteran counterparts. 

Seventy-three percent of Gulf War I 

women were employed, compared 

with 69.1 percent of Gulf War II 

women and 65.1 percent of nonveteran women. Part of the difference in employment rates is likely 

due to age. There were no 18- to 

24-year-old Gulf War I veterans. 

This is an age group with relatively 

low employment rates. There were 

also very few Gulf War I and Gulf 

War II veterans over the age of 55.

4 The percentages of Gulf War I and Gulf 

War II women who were Black, non-Hispanic 

were statistically different.

Figure 2.

Total Population of Gulf War-Era Veterans 

18 to 64 Years Old by Sex 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 3-year estimates, 

2005–2007, 2008–2010, and 2011–2013.

Millions

Millions

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

2005–2007 2008–2010 2011–2013

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

2005–2007 2008–2010 2011–2013

Gulf War I Veterans

Gulf War II Veterans

Men Women
4 U.S. Census Bureau Table 1. Characteristics of the Working-Age Population by Sex and Veteran Status (Civilian noninstitutionalized population 18 to 64 years old. Data based on sample. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling 

see www.census.gov/acs/www) Characteristics Men Wo

Gulf War I Gulf War II Nonveteran Gulf War I Gulf W

Estimate Margin of error (±) Estimate Margin of error (±) Estimate Margin of error (±) Estimate Margin of error (±) Estimate 

Total population, 18 to 64 years old . . . 1,189,960 11,050 1,735,900 13,840 84,959,290 29,530 235,110 5,830 394,890 

AGE 18 to 24 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 14.1 0.3 17.8 0.1 0 0 16.1 

25 to 34 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.5 0.3 56.8 0.4 22.5 0.1 18.0 0.8 56.1 35 to 44 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67.7 0.5 21.5 0.3 21.0 0.1 61.4 1.0 20.7 45 to 54 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.0 0.3 6.7 0.2 22.0 0.1 16.4 0.8 6.1 55 to 64 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.8 0.1 0.8 0.1 16.7 0.1 4.2 0.4 1.0 Median age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.1 0.1 30.9 0.1 39.7 0.1 39.7 0.1 30.7 RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN White, non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69.1 0.5 67.8 0.4 62.8 0.1 59.2 1.0 55.0 Black, non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.8 0.3 13.2 0.3 11.1 0.1 25.2 1.1 23.2 Asian, non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.0 0.1 2.6 0.1 5.6 0.1 1.9 0.3 2.9 Other, non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1 0.2 3.6 0.1 2.5 0.1 4.5 0.4 5.3 Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.1 0.3 12.8 0.3 18.0 0.1 9.2 0.7 13.7 EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT High school graduate or less . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29.3 0.4 26.6 0.3 43.6 0.1 14.7 0.8 15.9 Some college . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46.2 0.4 51.9 0.4 29.9 0.1 49.1 1.2 53.0 Bachelor’s degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.7 0.3 15.1 0.2 17.4 0.1 23.5 0.9 20.9 Advanced degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.8 0.3 6.4 0.2 9.1 0.1 12.7 0.7 10.3 CITIZENSHIP STATUS Native or naturalized citizen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98.9 0.1 99.1 0.1 88.8 0.1 99.1 0.2 99.2 Noncitizen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1 0.1 0.9 0.1 11.2 0.1 0.9 0.2 0.8 DISABILITY STATUS Has one or more disabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.6 0.3 10.5 0.2 9.6 0.1 10.6 0.6 8.5 No disability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90.4 0.3 89.5 0.2 90.4 0.1 89.4 0.6 91.5 EMPLOYMENT STATUS Employed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83.9 0.3 77.9 0.4 74.9 0.1 73.0 0.9 69.1 Nonemployed1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.1 0.3 22.1 0.4 25.1 0.1 27.0 0.9 30.9 

1 ”Nonemployed” includes individuals who were either unemployed or not in the labor force. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 3-year estimates, 2011–2013.
U.S. Census Bureau 5

CHARACTERISTICS 

OF THE EMPLOYED 

AND NONEMPLOYED 

POPULATIONS

Individuals who were either unemployed or not in the labor force 

at all were classified as “nonemployed” in order to examine how 

their characteristics differed from 

those of the employed population.5 Unemployed individuals are 

not currently working, but are 

actively looking for a job while 

those who are not in the labor force 

5 It is not possible with these data to 

determine if any of these characteristics are 

the actual reasons a person is not working, 

but they may suggest some indication.

are typically not actively looking 

for work.6 The purpose of this 

section is to compare how those 

veterans (and nonveterans) with 

a job compare with those without 

one, regardless of their job search 

activity. About three-quarters of the 

“nonemployed” population were 

not actively seeking employment in 

the 2011–2013 period.

For Gulf War II men and nonveteran 

men, as well as Gulf War II women, 

the nonemployed population was 

younger than their employed 

counterparts (see Table 2). This 

6 The “not in labor force” category consists 

mainly of students, retired workers, and those 

otherwise unavailable or unable to work.

was not the case for Gulf War I men 

and nonveteran women, where the 

employed population was younger 

than the nonemployed population.

Individuals may choose not to 

participate in the labor force 

because they are enrolled in school. 

In 2011–2013, a higher percentage of nonemployed Gulf War-era 

veterans, as well as nonveterans 

were enrolled in school, compared 

to their employed counterparts. 

Not surprisingly, nonemployed 

Gulf War II veterans, both men and 

women, had the highest percentages who were enrolled in school 

(39.9 percent and 42.9 percent, 

respectively). Gulf War II veterans 

were the youngest population in 

the analysis. The Gulf War II cohort 

may also be enrolling in school at 

higher rates because of the Post 

9/11 G.I. Bill, which took effect in 

August 2009.7

The employed population, for Gulf 

War I and Gulf War II veterans and 

nonveterans, was more likely to 

have higher educational attainment 

than the nonemployed population 

(see Figure 4). In general, those 

with higher educational attainment 

are typically less likely to be unemployed (part of the nonemployed 

population). This may be because 

those with a college degree are 

able to hold a broader range of jobs 

in more occupations and industries 

than those with less education.8

The disability status of an individual 

may also be a factor in labor force 

participation and employment. 

For all groups, a higher percentage of the nonemployed population had one or more disabilities 

in 2011–2013, compared with the 

7 For more information about the Post9/11 G.I. Bill educational benefits, see 

<www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/post911

_gibill.asp>. 8 Gary Burtless, “Trends in the Structure of 

the Labor Market and Unemployment: Implications for U.S. Unemployment Insurance,” 

Washington, DC, September 2008.

Figure 3.

Percentage of the Population 18 to 64 Years Old 

Who Were Employed by Veteran Status and Sex

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 3-year estimates, 2011–2013.

Nonveteran

Gulf War II

Gulf War I

Nonveteran

Gulf War II

Gulf War I 

Men

Women

83.9

77.9

74.9

73.0

69.1

65.1
6 U.S. Census Bureau Table 2. Characteristics of the Employed and Nonemployed Populations by Sex and Veteran Status (Civilian noninstitutionalized population 18 to 64 years old. Data based on sample. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling 

see www.census.gov/acs/www) Characteristics Men Wo

Gulf War I Gulf War II Nonveteran Gulf War I Gulf W

Employed Non- employed Employed Non- employed Employed Non- employed Employed Non- employed Employed 

e

Total population, 18 to 64 years old . . . 998,610 191,350 1,352,740 383,160 63,655,290 21,304,000 171,530 63,580 272,740 

AGE 18 to 24 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 12.5 19.9 13.1 31.8 0 0 14.6 

25 to 34 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.0 16.3 56.3 58.6 24.5 16.6 17.3 20.0 54.8 35 to 44 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69.0 60.6 23.3 15.1 23.7 13.0 62.0 59.5 22.8 45 to 54 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.6 17.6 7.0 5.4 23.7 16.9 17.0 15.0 6.8 55 to 64 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3 5.6 0.8 1.0 15.1 21.6 3.7 5.4 1.0 Median age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.1 40.3 31.4 29.3 40.3 36.2 39.8 39.5 31.1 SCHOOL ENROLLMENT Enrolled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.2 13.9 20.0 39.9 8.9 24.9 12.7 18.4 28.0 Not enrolled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92.8 86.1 80.0 60.1 91.1 75.1 87.3 81.6 72.0 EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT High school graduate or less . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.6 38.2 25.1 31.9 39.2 56.7 13.0 19.4 14.3 Some college . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.9 48.0 50.8 56.0 29.6 30.6 47.2 54.5 49.7 Bachelor’s degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.0 10.0 16.6 9.6 20.2 9.1 25.4 18.3 23.6 Advanced degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.6 3.8 7.5 2.6 11.0 3.6 14.5 7.8 12.5 DISABILITY STATUS Has one or more disabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.6 30.3 7.0 22.8 4.5 24.6 5.7 23.8 5.3 No disability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94.4 69.7 93.0 77.2 95.5 75.4 94.3 76.2 94.7 SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY STATUS Has a service-connected disability . . . . . . . . . . 13.9 26.1 20.2 32.4 X X 19.5 27.3 20.1 

No service-connected disability . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86.1 73.9 79.8 67.6 X X 80.5 72.7 79.9 WORK STATUS Less than full-time, year-round . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.8 X 21.1 X 24.5 X 25.0 X 28.0 

Full-time, year-round . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85.2 X 78.9 X 75.5 X 75.0 X 72.0 WHEN LAST WORKED Within past 12 months . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X 33.3 X 43.7 X 30.0 X 24.3 X 

1 to 5 years ago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X 36.4 X 37.4 X 26.7 X 36.3 X Over 5 years ago or never worked . . . . . . . . . . . X 30.3 X 19.0 X 43.3 X 39.4 X Last job was military1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X 1.3 X 19.3 X X X 0.8 X 

X Not applicable. 1 Based on the industry of those who worked in the past 5 years. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 3-year estimates, 2011–2013.
U.S. Census Bureau 7

employed population. Thirty percent 

of nonemployed Gulf War I men, the 

oldest cohort of men, had some disability, compared with 5.6 percent 

of employed Gulf War I men. About 

23 percent of nonemployed Gulf 

War II male veterans had a disability, 

compared with 7.0 percent of the 

employed. The percentages of nonemployed Gulf War-era women with 

a disability were lower than those of 

the nonemployed Gulf War-era men, 

however, the pattern was the same. 

A higher percentage of the nonemployed than employed women had 

some type of disability.

A higher percentage of nonemployed Gulf War-era veterans had 

a service-connected disability than 

their employed counterparts. A 

service-connected disability is an 

injury or illness incurred or aggravated by military service, and it 

does not necessarily correlate with a 

disability as measured by the ACS.9

Twenty-six percent of nonemployed 

Gulf War I men and 32.4 percent of 

nonemployed Gulf War II men had a 

service-connected disability, compared with 13.9 percent and 20.2 

percent of their employed counterparts, respectively. Similarly, 27.3 

percent of nonemployed Gulf War I 

women and 30.1 percent of nonemployed Gulf War II women had a 

service-connected disability, compared with about 20 percent of their 

employed counterparts.10 Veterans 

with a service-connected disability 

receive compensation from the 

Department of Veterans Affairs. The 

amount of compensation differs by 

degree of disability and number of 

eligible dependents.

Among the employed population, 

a higher percentage of Gulf War I 

men and women were employed 

full-time, year-round in 2011–2013 

than their Gulf War II counterparts 

(see Figure 5). Individuals who 

work full-time (35 or more hours 

a week) and year-round (50 to 52 

weeks a year) are likely to be working in more permanent, or career, 

jobs than those working part-time 

or part-year. The gap between Gulf 

War I and Gulf War II who worked 

full-time, year-round was higher for 

men, with a difference of 6.3 percentage points (compared with 3.0 

percentage points for women). 

9 Veterans can receive a service-connected 

disability rating for a wide variety of conditions. For example, a veteran could receive 

disability compensation for an impairment 

of the knee, but his functioning and activity 

participation is such that he answers “No” 

to “Does this person have serious difficulty 

walking or climbing stairs?” Many veterans 

have more than one disability, as defined by 

the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In 

these cases, a rating formula is applied to 

assess the overall disabling effect to determine a combined rating. Even a veteran with 

a service-connected disability rating of “70 

percent or higher” may not report having a 

limitation in a function or activity on the ACS 

questionnaire. 10 The percentages of employed Gulf 

War I and Gulf War II women with a serviceconnected disability were not statistically 

different.

Figure 4.

Employed and Nonemployed Populations With a 

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher by Sex and Veteran Status

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 3-year estimates, 2011–2013.

0 10 20 30 40

Nonveteran

Gulf War II

Gulf War I

0 10 20 30 40

Nonveteran

Gulf War II

Gulf War I

Men

Women

Men employed Nonemployed

Women employed

Percent

Percent
8 U.S. Census Bureau

All Gulf War-era veterans were also 

more likely to work full-time, yearround than nonveterans. The differences for women were especially 

striking. Seventy-five percent of 

Gulf War I women and 72.0 percent 

of Gulf War II women worked fulltime, year-round, compared with 

63.7 percent of nonveteran women. 

Among the nonemployed population, a higher percentage of Gulf 

War II men (43.7 percent) had last 

worked in the past 12 months, 

compared with Gulf War I men and 

nonveteran men (33.3 percent and 

30.0 percent, respectively). Fortythree percent of nonveteran men 

who were not currently working 

had last worked over 5 years ago, 

or never worked at all. Nonemployed women were more likely to 

have been out of work longer than 

nonemployed men. Thirty-nine 

percent of Gulf War I women and 

52.4 percent of nonveteran women 

who were not currently working 

had last worked over 5 years ago, 

or never worked. About 44 percent 

of nonemployed Gulf War II women 

had last worked 1 to 5 years ago.

OCCUPATIONS OF GULF 

WAR-ERA VETERANS

Gulf War I men are the older of 

the two veteran cohorts, therefore 

it is not surprising that a higher 

percentage of those employed 

full-time, year-round worked in 

management occupations, compared with the Gulf War II men 

(12.1 percent compared with 8.9 

percent) (see Figure 6).11 The largest occupation group for Gulf War II 

men was protective service occupations. Thirteen percent of Gulf 

War II men worked in this category, 

which includes jobs such as police 

officers, sheriffs, security guards, 

and firefighters. This compares 

with 10.6 percent of Gulf War I 

men and 3.1 percent of full-time, 

year-round nonveteran men. 

11 The percentage of Gulf War I men 

employed in management occupations was 

lower than the percentage of nonveteran men.

Gulf War-era men were less likely to 

work in construction occupations 

and sales and related occupations, 

compared with nonveteran men. 

About 4 percent of both Gulf War I 

and Gulf War II men were employed 

in healthcare practitioners and 

technical occupations in 2011–

2013, compared with 2.8 percent 

of nonveteran men.

About 20 percent of Gulf War I 

and Gulf War II female veterans 

who were employed full-time, 

year-round worked in office and 

administrative support occupations (see Figure 7).12 This was 

also the largest occupation 

group for nonveteran women in 

2011–2013 (22.4 percent). Where 

women differed significantly was 

in healthcare occupations. Over 

15 percent of Gulf War I and Gulf 

War II women worked in healthcare 

practitioner and technical occupations, compared with 9.7 percent of 

nonveteran women. This category 

includes occupations such as physicians, surgeons, registered nurses, 

and medical assistants. A slightly 

higher percentage of Gulf War II 

women worked in healthcare support occupations (e.g., home health 

aides, medical assistants, pharmacy 

assistants) than Gulf War I women 

(4.6 percent compared with 3.3 

percent).13

About 5 percent of Gulf War I and 

Gulf War II women worked in protective service occupations. While 

this was not nearly as common 

an occupation choice as it was for 

their male counterparts, it was 

significantly more common for Gulf 

War-era women than nonveteran 

women (1.1 percent).

12 The percentage of Gulf War II women 

veterans in office and administrative support 

occupations was not statistically different 

from that of Gulf War I women veterans or 

nonveteran women. 13 The percentage of Gulf War II women 

in healthcare support occupations was not 

statistically different from the percentage of 

nonveteran women.

Figure 5.

Percentage Who Worked Full-Time, Year-Round 

by Veteran Status and Sex

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 3-year estimates, 2011–2013.

85.2

78.9

75.5

75.0

72.0

Nonveteran 63.7

Gulf War II 

Gulf War I 

Nonveteran 

Gulf War II 

Gulf War I 

Men

Women
U.S. Census Bureau 9

One small but unique standout 

for Gulf War II women was installation, maintenance, and repair 

occupations. About 3 percent of 

full-time, year-round employed 

Gulf War II women worked in this 

category, which includes jobs such 

as computer, radio, telecommunication and electronic repairers, and 

automobile and aircraft mechanics 

and technicians.14 These jobs may 

be similar to the jobs this cohort 

of women was doing while in the 

military. This was also the second 

largest occupation category for 

Gulf War II men. 

14 The percentage of Gulf War II women in 

installation, maintenance, and repair occupations was not statistically different from the 

percentages in production or food preparation and serving-related occupations.

Gulf War-era women veterans also 

had a slight edge in computer and 

mathematical occupations. About 

3.5 percent of Gulf War I and II 

women who worked full-time, yearround were employed in this occupation category, compared with 1.9 

percent of nonveteran women.

STEM AND STEM-RELATED 

OCCUPATIONS 

Interest in science, technology, 

engineering, and mathematics 

(STEM) education and occupations 

has increased in recent years. 

STEM occupations include a wide 

range of jobs such as analysts, 

researchers, scientists, and managers in computers and information 

technology, life, physical, and 

social sciences.15

A higher percentage of Gulf War I 

men who worked full-time, yearround were employed in STEM 

occupations, 11.5 percent compared with 10.3 percent of Gulf 

War II men (see Figure 8). There 

was no significant difference 

between the percentage of Gulf 

War I and Gulf War II women who 

worked in STEM occupations. Both 

cohorts of Gulf War-era men and 

women were more likely to work 

in STEM occupations than their 

nonveteran counterparts. In the 

15 According to the Census Bureau occupation code list, there are 63 specific STEM 

occupations, 35 STEM-related occupations, 

and 437 non-STEM occupations (excluding 

military-specific occupations).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 3-year estimates, 2011–2013.

Figure 6.

Men Employed Full-Time, Year-Round by Occupation and Veteran Status

Gulf War I Men Gulf War II Men Nonveteran Men

0 5 10 15 20 25

Farming, fishing, and forestry

Healthcare support 

Life, physical, and social science 

Legal 

Personal care and service 

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media 

Community and social service 

Food preparation and serving related 

Education, training, and library 

Building and grounds cleaning maintenance

Material moving

Architecture and engineering

Healthcare practitioners and technical 

Business and financial operations 

Computer and mathematical

Construction and extraction

Transportation 

Office and administrative support

Sales and related

Production

Installation, maintenance, and repair 

Protective service 

Management 

0 5 10 15 20 25 0 5 10 15 20 25

Percent distribution
10 U.S. Census Bureau

past several decades, the military 

has become more technologically 

advanced and service members 

from the Gulf War-era, particularly 

those serving post-9/11, may have 

worked with sophisticated communications systems, information 

technology, cyber terrorism, engineering, or even robotics during 

their time in service. The U.S. Army 

and the Army Corps of Engineers 

have a high-tech training program 

geared toward STEM occupations.16

STEM-related occupations are 

primarily architects, healthcare 

practitioners, and healthcare technicians. Women, in general, are 

16 Please see <www.goarmy.com

/careers-and-jobs/stem.html>. 

more likely to work in STEM-related 

occupations than men because of 

their concentration in healthcare. A 

higher percentage of Gulf War-era 

female veterans than nonveteran 

women had STEM-related occupations in 2011–2013 (see Figure 

8).17 This may be directly related 

to the types of jobs these women 

had while in the military. Historically, women in the military were 

restricted to certain occupations, 

one of the largest being nurses. 

Although Gulf War-era women have 

many more occupational opportunities available to them, there 

are still numerous military medical 

17 The percentages of Gulf War I and Gulf 

War II women in STEM-related occupations 

were not statistically different.

occupational specialties available 

to enlisted and officer men and 

women in today’s Armed Forces.

SUMMARY

Post-1990 Gulf War-era veterans are 

a unique and growing population of 

veterans. They are more diverse in 

sex, race, and Hispanic origin then 

their predecessors. They had substantively different experiences in 

the military than earlier cohorts of 

veterans in terms of occupational 

opportunities that were available 

to them. They also differ greatly in 

age from the working-age nonveteran population, to which they 

are often compared. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 3-year estimates, 2011–2013.

Figure 7.

Women Employed Full-Time, Year-Round by Occupation and Veteran Status

Gulf War I Women Gulf War II Women Nonveteran Women

0 5 10 15 20 25

Farming, fishing, and forestry

Construction and extraction

Material moving

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media 

Building and grounds cleaning maintenance

Life, physical, and social science 

Installation, maintenance, and repair 

Architecture and engineering

Transportation 

Legal 

Personal care and service 

Food preparation and serving related 

Production

Community and social service 

Healthcare support 

Computer and mathematical

Protective service 

Education, training, and library 

Sales and related

Business and financial operations 

Management 

Healthcare practitioners and technical 

Office and administrative support

0 5 10 15 20 25 0 5 10 15 20 25

Percent distribution
U.S. Census Bureau 11

Overall, a higher percentage of all 

working-age Gulf War-era veterans 

were employed in 2011–2013, 

compared with working-age nonveterans. Gulf War-era veterans, 

both men and women, were more 

likely to work full-time, year-round 

than their nonveteran counterparts. 

Finally, the types of occupations 

held by Gulf War-era veterans 

who were employed full-time, 

year-round differed from those of 

nonveterans, and in many ways 

reflected the kinds of work they 

may have done in the military. 

Many factors that are not explored 

in this report could account for the 

employment differences between 

veterans and nonveterans, including the interactions between age, 

race and Hispanic origin, citizenship, disability status, education, 

and selectivity bias of those who 

choose to serve in the military. 

MORE INFORMATION 

For more information about veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, 

go to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 

Web site on veterans statistics at 

<www.census.gov/topics

/population/veterans.html>. 

SOURCE AND ACCURACY 

Data presented in this report are 

based on people and households 

that responded to the ACS in 2011 

through 2013, and are subject to 

sampling and nonsampling error. 

All comparisons presented in this 

report have taken sampling error 

into account and are significant 

at the 90 percent confidence level 

unless otherwise noted. Due to 

rounding, some details may not 

sum to totals. For information on 

sampling and estimation methods, 

confidentiality protection, and 

sampling and nonsampling errors, 

please see the “ACS Accuracy of the 

Data” documents for 2011–2013 

located at <www.census.gov/acs

/www/data_documentation

/documentation_main/>.

WHAT IS THE AMERICAN 

COMMUNITY SURVEY?

The American Community Survey

(ACS) is a nationwide survey 

designed to provide communities 

with reliable and timely demographic, social, economic, and 

housing data for the nation, states, 

congressional districts, counties, 

places, and other localities every 

year. It has an annual sample size 

of about 3 million addresses across 

Figure 8.

Percentage Who Worked Full-Time, Year-Round in 

STEM and STEM-Related Occupations 

by Veteran Status and Sex

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 3-year estimates, 2011–2013.

STEM Occupations

STEM-Related Occupations

Nonveteran 

Gulf War II 

Gulf War I 

Nonveteran 

Gulf War II 

Gulf War I 

Nonveteran 

Gulf War II 

Gulf War I 

Nonveteran 

Gulf War II 

Gulf War I 

Men

Women

Men

Women

11.5

10.3

9.5

6.3

7.0

3.9

4.4

4.4

3.3

18.4

17.1

10.6
12 U.S. Census Bureau

the United States and Puerto Rico 

and includes both housing units 

and group quarters (e.g., nursing 

facilities and prisons). The ACS is 

conducted in every county throughout the nation, and every municipio 

in Puerto Rico, where it is called 

the Puerto Rico Community Survey. 

Beginning in 2006, ACS 1-year data 

for 2005 were released for geographic areas with populations of 

65,000 and greater. Beginning in 

2008, ACS 3-year data for 2005–

2007 were released for geographic 

areas with populations of 20,000 

and greater. Beginning in 2010, ACS 

5-year data for 2005–2009 were 

released for all geographic areas. 

For information on the ACS sample 

design and other topics, visit 

<www.census.gov/acs/www>.

Figure 9.

Reproduction of Veterans’ Question Series on the 

American Community Survey

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 3-year estimates, 2011–2013.
U.S. Census Bureau 13 Appendix Table. Margins of Error for Characteristics of the Employed and Nonemployed Populations by Sex and V

(Civilian noninstitutionalized population 18 to 64 years old. Data based on sample. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling see www.census.gov/acs/www) Characteristics Men Wo

Gulf War I Gulf War II Nonveteran Gulf War I Gulf W

Employed Non- employed Employed Non- employed Employed Non- employed Employed Non- employed Employed 

Total population, 18 to 64 years old . . . 10,340 4,280 13,040 7,000 50,270 45,250 5,210 2,280 5,580 

AGE 18 to 24 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0.3 0.7 0.1 0.1 0 0 0.7 

25 to 34 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 0.8 0.5 0.7 0.1 0.1 1.0 1.6 0.9 35 to 44 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.5 1.0 0.3 0.6 0.1 0.1 1.4 2.0 0.9 45 to 54 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 0.8 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.1 1.0 1.2 0.4 55 to 64 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.1 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.8 0.2 Median age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 SCHOOL ENROLLMENT Enrolled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2 0.9 0.4 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.8 1.5 1.0 Not enrolled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2 0.9 0.4 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.8 1.5 1.0 EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT High school graduate or less . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 1.1 0.4 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.8 1.8 0.7 Some college . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.5 1.1 0.5 0.8 0.1 0.1 1.3 2.2 0.9 Bachelor’s degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 0.7 0.3 0.5 0.1 0.1 1.0 1.5 1.0 Advanced degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.3 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.8 1.1 0.6 DISABILITY STATUS Has one or more disabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2 1.0 0.2 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.5 1.7 0.4 No disability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2 1.0 0.2 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.5 1.7 0.4 SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY STATUS Has a service-connected disability . . . . . . . . . . 0.3 1.0 0.4 0.9 X X 1.0 1.7 0.9 

No service-connected disability . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.3 1.0 0.4 0.9 X X 1.0 1.7 0.9 WORK STATUS Less than full-time, year-round . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 X 0.3 X 0.1 X 1.0 X 0.8 

Full-time, year-round . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 X 0.3 X 0.1 X 1.0 X 0.8 WHEN LAST WORKED Within past 12 months . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X 1.0 X 0.8 X 0.1 X 1.8 X 

1 to 5 years ago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X 1.2 X 0.7 X 0.1 X 1.6 X Over 5 years ago or never worked . . . . . . . . . . . X 1.0 X 0.7 X 0.1 X 1.7 X Last job was military1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X 0.3 X 0.7 X X X 0.4 X 

X Not applicable. 1 Based on the industry of those who worked in the past 5 years. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 3-year estimates, 2011–2013.