Employment Characteristics of Gulf War-Era II Veterans in 2006: A Visual Essay
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S. Armed Forces entered into a new period: Gulf War era II.1 This era follows Gulf War era I, which extended from August 1990 to August 2001. During Gulf War era II, troops deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and other locations. A sizable number of troops were called up from the Reserve and the National Guard. This visual essay examines the characteristics of the 1.2 million veterans 18 to 54 years old who served in this new era and shows how they have been faring in the labor market after returning to civilian life.
The information to be presented was obtained from Gulf War-era II veterans or members of their households in 2006. Military personnel on active duty at the time of the survey are excluded. Data are 2006 annual averages and were collected as part of the Current Population Survey (CPS), a monthly survey of approximately 60,000 households that provides national data on civilian employment and unemployment.2
Gulf War-era II veterans are men and women who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces anywhere in the world sometime between September 2001 and the time they were surveyed in 2006. Members of the Reserve and National Guard are counted as veterans if they have ever been called to active duty. Nonveterans have never served on active duty in the U.S. military. Data about veterans who served in other periods are not included in this essay, but are available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The 2006 data are the first annual average statistics available that separately identify Gulf War-era II veterans. Previously, all Gulf War-era veterans (who served since August 1990) were grouped together into one category. Veterans who served in both Gulf War era I and Gulf War era II are classified into the latter category.
CPS data on veterans are of keen interest to a range of users, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, as well as congressional committees, veterans service organizations, the news media, and academic researchers.
1The designation “Gulf War era II” was developed in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service.
2CPS data are available on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/cps.
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by April Szuch.
