July 01, 2002 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Labor force participation of Vietnam-era vets in 2001

In August 2001, 76.6 percent of male veterans of the Vietnam era were in the labor force.

[Chart data—TXT]

Among male Vietnam-era veterans, 91 percent were between 45 and 64 years of age in August 2001. Their nonveteran peers had a labor force participation rate of 82.2 percent.

The participation rate for veterans with a service-connected disability was much lower than for nondisabled vets. About 11 percent of male Vietnam-era veterans reported having a service-connected disability; their labor force participation rate was 61.4 percent in August 2001, compared with 78.6 percent for vets without a disability.

These data are from a special supplement to the August 2001 Current Population Survey. The supplement also collected information about female veterans and veterans of other periods besides the Vietnam era.  Learn more in Employment Situation of Vietnam-Era Veterans, 2001 news release USDL 02-355.