The ninth annual veterans survey from the Jacksonville-based Wounded Warriors Project shows those surveyed made a 40 percent employment gain between 2014 and 2018.
More than 33,000 surveys were completed by veterans. Among those surveyed the unemployment rate dropped from 20 percent in 2014 to 12 percent in 2018.
Although the numbers showed a notable improvement among those surveyed, it’s still a significantly higher unemployment rate than among the general population.
Florida’s unemployment rate in October was 3.4 percent, according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. In Jacksonville it was even lower at 2.9 percent.
Related: Florida’s October Employment Report
“The most challenging aspect of transitioning to civilian life is finding the right fit of dignifying work,” one veteran responded in the survey.
Another said, “I am currently unable to find fulfilling work in my desired career field. The resume and hiring process is the most challenging part of the transition.”
Other improvements areas the survey respondents reported included:
- 71% of veterans use VA to address mental health concerns (63% in 2014)
- 36% have a Bachelor’s degree or better (25% in 2014)
- 60% of warriors own a home (46% in 2014)
But the survey of 33,067 veterans also found declines:
- 78% live with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (75% in 2014)
- 52% considered obese based on BMI (43% in 2014)
- 73% reported pain interfered with normal work outside and inside their home (62% in 2014)
The survey found one in three veterans has a bachelor’s degree or better and one in five are enrolled in college.
Additional information about the Wounded Warriors Project survey is available here.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
Photo used under Creative Commons license.
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