Economy 101: Recent vets report higher unemployment than non-vets

Economy 101: 12 pct of recent vets unemployed

WASHINGTON — Veterans of the Afghan and Iraq Wars are more likely to be unemployed than non-veterans, while the foreign-born and disabled are more likely to be jobless than the general population.

These figures were included for the first time Friday in the Labor Department’s monthly employment report. Overall, the report included mildly positive news: the nation’s jobless rate fell to 9.7 percent in January from 10 percent.

For veterans who have served since September 2001, joblessness is higher: 12.6 percent, compared to 10.4 percent for non-vets. Both groups have higher rates than the national total because the figures aren’t seasonally adjusted.

When veterans from all other periods are included, the picture is brighter: the unemployment rate for all vets is 9.6 percent, below the non-vet rate.

Meanwhile, 15.2 percent of disabled Americans are unemployed, the department said, compared to 10.4 percent of the general population.

The unemployment rate for foreign-born U.S. residents, meanwhile, is 11.8 percent. That compares to 10.3 percent for native-borne citizens.

Here, by the numbers, are some more details you can find deep in the employment report.

CLOSER TO THE PLUS SIGN

20,000: The net total of jobs lost in January

150,000: The net total of jobs lost in December

64,000: The net total of jobs gained in November, the only gain in 25 months

753,000: Average number of jobs lost each month in the first quarter of 2009

35,000: Average number lost each month in the past three months

TOUGH TIMES FOR THE YOUNGEST

26.4 percent: Unemployment rate for teenagers in January

15.8 percent: Unemployment rate for those 20 to 24 years old

STILL LOOKING

41.2 percent: Proportion of unemployed who’ve been out of work six months or longer, the highest on records dating to 1948

30.2 weeks: Average length of unemployment in January, also a record for the same period

6.3 million: Number of people unemployed for six months or longer, also a record for this period

1.3 million: Number unemployed for that long in December 2007, when the recession began

WHERE THE JOBS ARE

52,000: The number of temporary jobs added in January

11,000: Jobs added in manufacturing, the first gain since January 2007

42,100: Jobs added in retail, the largest gain since November 2007

14,500: Jobs added in hospitals, nursing and other health care sectors

7,100: Jobs added in computer services

UNDEREMPLOYED

8.3 million: Number of part-time workers who would have preferred full-time work last month

2.5 million: People without jobs who want to work but have stopped looking

16.5 percent: “Underemployment” rate in January if you include the above two categories

17.4 percent: Underemployment rate in October, the highest on records dating to 1994

JANUARY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE BY GROUP

12.3 percent: Female heads of households

8.4 percent: Asians

8.7 percent: Whites

12.6 percent: Hispanics

16.5 percent: Blacks