Veterans’ unemployment dips to four-year low

The unemployment rate for veterans dropped to 6.3 percent in October, its lowest point since November 2008.

The veterans’ unemployment rate is more than a point better than October’s overall 7.9 percent unemployment rate, and it’s down from 7.7 percent in October 2011, according to the employment report released Friday.

The unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans, meanwhile, ticked up in October to 10 percent, which is down from 12.1 percent a year prior, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Unemployment for veterans had not dropped below 6.5 percent since December 2008.

The rate dipped under 7 percent for the first time in July, and dropped from 6.7 in September to 6.3 this past month.

Friday’s employment report was the last before the Election Day. While most of the attention is focused on the overall jobs picture, both the Obama and Romney campaigns have focused on veterans outreach, particularly in military-heavy swing states like Virginia.

A big part of that is focused on employment, as the Obama administration has touted veterans’ hiring initiatives and the Romney campaign has criticized the administration for not doing enough to get veterans back to work.

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