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43.3 percent of veterans with a service-connected disability were employed in August 2015

November 10, 2016

In August 2015, about 4.3 million veterans, or 20 percent of all veterans, had a service-connected disability. The employment-population ratio, or number of employed people as a percentage of the civilian noninstitutional population age 18 and older, for all veterans was 47.8 percent. The employment-population ratio of veterans with a service-connected disability (43.3 percent) was lower than the employment-population ratio for veterans without a service-connected disability (49.0 percent). Gulf-War era II veterans, who served on active duty anywhere in the world sometime since September 2001, had an employment-population ratio of 77.9 percent in August 2015. Gulf War I veterans, who served during August 1990 to August 2001, had an employment-population ratio of 79.0 percent.

Employment-population ratios of veterans 18 years and over by presence of disability, reported disability rating, and period of service, August 2015
Presence of disability, reported disability rating, and period of service Employment-population ratio

Total, all veterans

47.8%

With service-connected disability

43.3

Less than 30 percent disability rating

51.4

30 to 50 percent disability rating

60.2

60 percent or higher disability rating

27.8

Without service-connected disability

49.0

Total, Gulf War era II

77.9

With service-connected disability

69.1

Less than 30 percent disability rating

74.7

30 to 50 percent disability rating

89.3

60 percent or higher disability rating

56.9

Without service-connected disability

83.2

Total, Gulf War era I

79.0

With service-connected disability

64.7

Less than 30 percent disability rating

75.8

30 to 50 percent disability rating

69.6

60 percent or higher disability rating

40.5

Without service-connected disability

83.8

Note: Beginning with data for August 2015, estimates reflect a change in the weighting methodology. Data from the August 2015 veterans supplement are not strictly comparable to data from veteran supplements in prior years.

Veterans with a service-connected disability are assigned a disability rating by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Ratings range from 0 to 100 percent, in increments of 10 percentage points, depending on the severity of the condition. Among veterans with a service-connected disability in August 2015, the employment-population ratio for veterans with a disability rating of 60 percent or higher was lower than the employment-population ratios of veterans with less severe disability ratings. A similar pattern existed for Gulf-War era II and Gulf War era I veterans.

These data are from the Current Population Survey. To learn more, see "Employment Situation of Veterans — 2015" (HTML) (PDF). Veterans are men and women who previously served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and were civilians when they were surveyed. People on active duty at the time of the survey are outside the scope of the survey. More information about veterans is available from the Current Population Survey.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, 43.3 percent of veterans with a service-connected disability were employed in August 2015 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2016/43-point-3-percent-of-veterans-with-a-service-connected-disability-were-employed-in-august-2015.htm (visited March 29, 2024).

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