Table 36. Employment status of veterans 18 years of age and over by sex and period of service, 

2009 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Total veterans, 18 years of age and over

Civilian noninstitutional population................................. 22,182 1,757 20,425 7.9

 Civilian labor force................................................... 12,102 1,134 10,968 9.4

 Participation rate...................................................... 54.6 64.5 53.7

 Employed............................................................ 11,119 1,042 10,076 9.4

 Employment-population ratio................................. 50.1 59.3 49.3

 Unemployed......................................................... 983 91 892 9.3

 Unemployment rate............................................. 8.1 8.0 8.1

 Not in labor force...................................................... 10,080 623 9,457 6.2

Period of Service

Gulf War-era II veterans

Civilian noninstitutional population................................. 1,940 347 1,593 17.9

 Civilian labor force................................................... 1,620 257 1,363 15.9

 Participation rate...................................................... 83.5 74.2 85.6

 Employed............................................................ 1,455 228 1,228 15.7

 Employment-population ratio................................. 75.0 65.6 77.1

 Unemployed......................................................... 165 30 136 18.2

U l tt 10 2 11 5 9 9

Employment status and period of service Total Women Men Women as a 

percent of total

 Unemployment rate............................................. 10.2 11.5 9.9

 Not in labor force...................................................... 319 89 230 27.9

Gulf War-era I veterans

Civilian noninstitutional population................................. 2,915 451 2,464 15.5

 Civilian labor force................................................... 2,556 361 2,195 14.1

 Participation rate...................................................... 87.7 80.1 89.1

 Employed............................................................ 2,361 335 2,026 14.2

 Employment-population ratio................................. 81.0 74.4 82.2

 Unemployed......................................................... 195 26 169 13.3

 Unemployment rate............................................. 7.6 7.1 7.7

 Not in labor force...................................................... 358 90 269 25.1

World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam-era veterans

Civilian noninstitutional population................................. 11,390 382 11,008 3.4

 Civilian labor force................................................... 4,356 133 4,223 3.1

 Participation rate...................................................... 38.2 34.8 38.4

 Employed............................................................ 4,029 126 3,903 3.1

 Employment-population ratio................................. 35.4 32.9 35.5

 Unemployed......................................................... 327 7 320 2.1

 Unemployment rate............................................. 7.5 5.4 7.6

 Not in labor force...................................................... 7,034 249 6,785 3.5

 See note at end of table.

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Table 36. Employment status of veterans 18 years of age and over by sex and period of service, 

2009 annual averages—Continued

(Numbers in thousands)

Veterans of other service periods

Civilian noninstitutional population................................. 5,937 577 5,360 9.7

 Civilian labor force................................................... 3,569 382 3,187 10.7

 Participation rate...................................................... 60.1 66.2 59.5

 Employed............................................................ 3,273 354 2,919 10.8

 Employment-population ratio................................. 55.1 61.3 54.5

 Unemployed......................................................... 296 29 267 9.8

 Unemployment rate............................................. 8.3 7.5 8.4

 Not in labor force...................................................... 2,368 195 2,173 8.2

Employment status and period of service Total Women Men Women as a 

percent of total

NOTE: Veterans served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and were not on active duty at the time of the

survey. Veterans could have served anywhere in the world during these periods of service: Gulf War era II (September

2001-present), Gulf War era I (August 1990-August 2001), Vietnam era (August 1964-April 1975), Korean War (July

1950-January 1955), World War II (December 1941-December 1946), and other service periods (all other time periods).

Veterans who served in more than one wartime period are classified only in the most recent one. Veterans who served

during one of the selected wartime periods and another period are classified only in the wartime period.

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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