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Labor force participation rate for veterans was 46.8 percent in October 2021
November 10, 2021
In October 2021, there were 18.0 million veterans in the United States, 8.4 million of whom were in the civilian labor force. Veterans had a labor force participation rate of 46.8 percent, while nonveterans had a labor force participation rate of 64.3 percent.
Labor force participation rate for veterans and nonveterans, January 2000 to October 2021
Date
Total veterans
Veteran males
Veteran females
Nonveterans
Nonveteran males
Nonveterans females
Jan 2000
59.7%
59.4%
62.7%
69.1%
81.2%
60.7%
Feb 2000
59.6
59.2
65.4
69.4
81.6
60.8
Mar 2000
59.1
58.7
64.8
69.6
81.6
61.0
Apr 2000
58.4
58.0
64.6
69.5
81.7
60.9
May 2000
58.7
58.3
65.4
69.4
81.7
60.6
Jun 2000
58.7
58.2
65.5
69.8
82.6
60.7
Jul 2000
59.0
58.6
65.9
69.5
82.5
60.3
Aug 2000
59.3
58.6
69.6
69.2
82.3
59.9
Sep 2000
58.8
58.2
68.3
68.9
81.3
60.2
Oct 2000
59.0
58.2
69.8
69.2
81.5
60.4
Nov 2000
58.7
58.2
66.9
69.2
81.4
60.5
Dec 2000
59.1
58.3
70.0
69.2
81.4
60.6
Jan 2001
58.9
58.4
67.5
69.2
81.2
60.6
Feb 2001
58.5
58.0
65.6
69.3
81.1
60.8
Mar 2001
58.9
58.4
65.8
69.5
81.2
61.2
Apr 2001
58.5
58.1
65.3
69.1
81.2
60.5
May 2001
58.5
57.8
67.9
69.0
81.1
60.3
Jun 2001
58.4
57.8
67.5
69.3
81.8
60.3
Jul 2001
58.7
58.3
64.5
69.3
82.0
60.2
Aug 2001
58.5
58.0
65.9
69.0
81.5
60.0
Sep 2001
58.6
57.9
67.8
68.9
81.0
60.2
Oct 2001
58.4
57.7
68.6
69.1
81.2
60.4
Nov 2001
59.2
58.2
73.0
69.0
81.0
60.4
Dec 2001
59.3
58.4
71.6
69.0
80.9
60.4
Jan 2002
59.3
58.2
74.2
68.6
80.5
60.1
Feb 2002
59.6
58.7
72.2
69.1
80.7
60.7
Mar 2002
59.7
58.5
76.1
69.0
80.8
60.4
Apr 2002
59.4
58.3
74.1
68.9
80.7
60.3
May 2002
59.6
58.7
72.0
68.9
81.0
60.2
Jun 2002
56.9
56.6
61.1
69.5
82.1
60.4
Jul 2002
56.8
56.7
59.2
69.4
82.2
60.2
Aug 2002
57.0
56.7
61.8
69.3
81.8
60.2
Sep 2002
56.9
56.6
61.4
69.2
81.3
60.4
Oct 2002
56.5
56.3
60.6
69.3
81.3
60.6
Nov 2002
56.9
56.6
61.7
68.9
80.6
60.5
Dec 2002
57.0
56.7
62.2
68.8
80.4
60.5
Jan 2003
56.6
56.3
62.7
68.9
80.3
60.6
Feb 2003
57.2
56.7
63.9
68.9
80.5
60.6
Mar 2003
57.2
56.7
65.1
69.0
80.3
60.7
Apr 2003
57.2
56.6
66.5
68.9
80.5
60.5
May 2003
56.9
56.4
65.1
68.9
80.4
60.5
Jun 2003
56.7
56.4
62.8
69.5
81.3
60.8
Jul 2003
56.5
56.0
63.7
69.2
81.4
60.3
Aug 2003
56.8
56.4
62.9
68.8
80.6
60.2
Sep 2003
56.4
56.0
63.1
68.7
80.5
60.0
Oct 2003
56.5
56.0
63.4
68.9
80.6
60.4
Nov 2003
56.9
56.5
62.6
68.9
80.6
60.3
Dec 2003
56.4
56.0
62.8
68.7
80.4
60.1
Jan 2004
56.8
56.3
63.4
68.5
80.3
59.9
Feb 2004
56.8
56.2
65.0
68.5
79.9
60.2
Mar 2004
56.7
56.2
64.1
68.7
80.1
60.3
Apr 2004
56.2
55.7
63.5
68.5
79.9
60.1
May 2004
56.7
56.1
64.9
68.5
79.9
60.1
Jun 2004
56.4
56.0
62.9
69.1
81.1
60.2
Jul 2004
56.5
55.9
64.5
69.2
81.4
60.1
Aug 2004
57.0
56.6
63.7
68.7
80.7
59.8
Sep 2004
56.2
55.9
59.4
68.5
79.9
60.0
Oct 2004
56.8
56.5
61.2
68.7
80.2
60.2
Nov 2004
56.7
56.3
61.6
68.8
80.3
60.3
Dec 2004
55.7
55.4
60.2
68.7
80.2
60.2
Jan 2005
55.6
55.0
63.3
68.3
79.7
59.9
Feb 2005
56.3
55.6
65.5
68.4
79.7
60.0
Mar 2005
56.3
55.7
63.5
68.3
79.9
59.7
Apr 2005
56.5
56.0
62.9
68.5
80.0
60.0
May 2005
56.2
55.7
64.0
68.7
80.3
60.1
Jun 2005
56.0
55.4
63.7
69.0
81.1
60.0
Jul 2005
56.3
55.7
63.4
69.2
81.3
60.2
Aug 2005
56.0
55.6
61.8
69.0
81.1
60.0
Sep 2005
56.0
55.5
62.2
68.9
80.2
60.5
Oct 2005
55.9
55.6
60.1
69.1
80.4
60.7
Nov 2005
55.6
55.0
62.9
69.0
80.3
60.6
Dec 2005
55.5
55.1
60.7
68.9
80.1
60.4
Jan 2006
55.3
54.7
63.6
68.5
79.8
59.9
Feb 2006
55.3
54.6
64.3
68.7
80.1
60.1
Mar 2006
56.0
55.3
64.7
68.7
80.2
60.0
Apr 2006
56.2
55.7
63.3
68.6
80.1
60.0
May 2006
56.0
55.4
63.0
68.8
80.3
60.1
Jun 2006
55.5
54.9
63.0
69.2
80.9
60.4
Jul 2006
55.0
54.3
64.3
69.4
81.2
60.6
Aug 2006
55.0
54.2
65.3
69.2
81.1
60.3
Sep 2006
55.2
54.5
64.8
69.0
80.5
60.3
Oct 2006
55.4
54.8
63.5
69.3
80.7
60.7
Nov 2006
55.2
54.6
62.8
69.3
80.5
60.8
Dec 2006
55.6
55.0
64.3
69.2
80.4
60.7
Jan 2007
54.4
53.7
64.3
69.0
80.2
60.4
Feb 2007
55.1
54.5
63.2
68.8
79.9
60.4
Mar 2007
55.8
55.4
60.7
68.8
79.8
60.5
Apr 2007
55.8
55.3
61.9
68.6
79.8
60.0
May 2007
56.0
55.4
64.1
68.7
80.0
60.1
Jun 2007
55.5
54.5
68.0
69.2
80.8
60.3
Jul 2007
55.1
54.0
67.8
69.4
81.2
60.4
Aug 2007
54.9
54.0
66.6
68.9
80.4
60.1
Sep 2007
54.7
54.0
63.4
69.0
80.0
60.6
Oct 2007
55.1
54.3
64.8
68.9
79.8
60.5
Nov 2007
55.0
54.4
63.1
69.1
80.1
60.7
Dec 2007
55.4
54.5
65.8
68.8
79.6
60.5
Jan 2008
54.8
54.0
64.4
68.7
79.6
60.4
Feb 2008
55.5
54.6
66.8
68.4
79.2
60.2
Mar 2008
55.7
54.9
66.4
68.7
79.4
60.4
Apr 2008
55.4
54.6
65.0
68.6
79.5
60.4
May 2008
55.5
54.9
62.7
68.8
79.7
60.5
Jun 2008
55.1
54.4
63.7
69.3
80.5
60.7
Jul 2008
54.5
54.0
60.4
69.5
81.1
60.7
Aug 2008
54.7
54.0
64.3
69.3
80.4
60.7
Sep 2008
54.4
53.6
64.5
69.0
79.9
60.6
Oct 2008
55.0
54.0
67.2
69.1
79.8
60.9
Nov 2008
55.6
54.7
65.6
68.9
79.3
60.8
Dec 2008
55.5
54.5
67.9
68.7
79.0
60.7
Jan 2009
55.5
54.5
68.4
68.4
78.7
60.4
Feb 2009
55.2
54.3
66.2
68.4
78.8
60.4
Mar 2009
55.0
54.2
64.6
68.4
78.6
60.5
Apr 2009
54.2
53.4
63.5
68.5
78.8
60.6
May 2009
55.2
54.7
62.0
68.4
78.8
60.5
Jun 2009
54.8
54.1
63.7
68.9
79.3
60.8
Jul 2009
54.6
53.6
65.6
68.9
79.5
60.8
Aug 2009
54.5
53.6
65.2
68.4
78.8
60.3
Sep 2009
54.2
53.2
65.7
68.0
78.1
60.2
Oct 2009
53.9
52.8
65.4
68.0
78.2
60.1
Nov 2009
53.8
53.1
61.9
67.9
77.9
60.2
Dec 2009
53.8
53.1
62.2
67.5
77.4
59.8
Jan 2010
53.5
52.7
62.2
67.7
77.6
60.1
Feb 2010
53.6
53.0
60.1
67.8
77.7
60.1
Mar 2010
53.4
52.7
61.3
67.9
78.2
60.0
Apr 2010
53.1
52.4
62.2
68.0
78.2
60.1
May 2010
53.8
53.0
62.1
67.8
78.0
60.0
Jun 2010
53.5
52.5
63.9
68.0
78.4
59.9
Jul 2010
53.9
53.1
62.6
68.0
78.4
59.9
Aug 2010
54.2
53.4
63.0
67.8
78.1
59.8
Sep 2010
53.3
52.6
61.0
67.7
77.5
60.0
Oct 2010
53.0
52.3
61.0
67.5
77.3
59.8
Nov 2010
52.9
52.2
61.6
67.5
77.3
59.9
Dec 2010
52.8
51.8
63.8
67.2
77.1
59.5
Jan 2011
52.4
51.1
66.9
67.0
76.8
59.5
Feb 2011
52.5
51.3
65.5
67.1
76.9
59.3
Mar 2011
51.9
50.9
63.3
67.2
77.1
59.5
Apr 2011
52.2
51.2
62.7
67.1
76.8
59.4
May 2011
52.7
51.9
61.4
67.1
77.0
59.3
Jun 2011
52.9
52.3
59.5
67.3
77.4
59.3
Jul 2011
52.7
52.2
59.0
67.3
77.4
59.3
Aug 2011
52.7
52.1
60.1
67.1
77.2
59.2
Sep 2011
52.5
51.7
61.5
67.1
76.8
59.5
Oct 2011
52.1
51.2
62.5
67.2
77.0
59.4
Nov 2011
52.1
51.2
62.3
67.0
76.9
59.2
Dec 2011
51.7
51.0
58.8
66.8
76.7
59.0
Jan 2012
51.1
50.1
62.5
66.5
76.3
58.8
Feb 2012
52.1
51.1
63.0
66.6
76.3
59.1
Mar 2012
52.4
51.4
63.9
66.6
76.4
59.0
Apr 2012
52.3
51.4
61.8
66.3
76.0
58.8
May 2012
52.9
51.9
63.6
66.7
76.6
58.9
Jun 2012
51.7
50.8
60.9
67.0
77.3
59.0
Jul 2012
51.6
50.9
59.5
66.9
77.4
58.8
Aug 2012
51.8
50.9
61.3
66.5
76.6
58.6
Sep 2012
52.3
51.6
60.6
66.5
76.3
58.9
Oct 2012
52.0
51.2
60.4
66.8
76.6
59.1
Nov 2012
51.9
50.8
63.6
66.4
76.3
58.7
Dec 2012
51.3
50.4
60.6
66.4
76.2
58.8
Jan 2013
51.2
49.9
63.0
66.3
76.2
58.5
Feb 2013
51.6
50.4
62.6
66.2
76.0
58.5
Mar 2013
51.2
50.0
62.4
66.1
76.0
58.3
Apr 2013
52.1
50.7
63.9
66.0
75.8
58.3
May 2013
52.3
50.8
64.6
66.3
76.2
58.5
Jun 2013
51.1
49.7
63.8
66.7
76.9
58.6
Jul 2013
51.1
49.7
62.7
66.6
76.9
58.4
Aug 2013
50.6
49.4
61.3
66.3
76.4
58.3
Sep 2013
51.3
49.7
64.3
66.1
75.9
58.3
Oct 2013
51.3
49.7
64.8
65.7
75.4
58.1
Nov 2013
50.9
49.5
62.8
65.8
75.5
58.1
Dec 2013
50.8
49.1
64.6
65.5
75.0
57.9
Jan 2014
50.4
48.9
64.0
65.5
74.9
58.0
Feb 2014
50.9
49.3
64.4
65.7
75.0
58.4
Mar 2014
51.1
49.7
63.0
65.9
75.4
58.3
Apr 2014
50.5
49.2
61.8
65.6
75.0
58.1
May 2014
50.3
49.0
60.8
65.9
75.5
58.3
Jun 2014
50.1
48.8
61.2
66.1
76.3
58.0
Jul 2014
50.1
48.7
61.4
66.2
76.4
58.0
Aug 2014
50.5
49.3
60.7
65.8
75.8
57.8
Sep 2014
51.4
49.7
65.7
65.6
75.3
57.9
Oct 2014
50.9
49.5
62.9
65.8
75.3
58.3
Nov 2014
50.6
49.3
63.8
65.7
75.1
58.3
Dec 2014
50.5
49.0
64.2
65.3
75.0
57.6
Jan 2015
50.6
49.1
65.0
65.3
74.9
57.8
Feb 2015
51.1
49.5
66.6
65.3
75.0
57.7
Mar 2015
51.0
49.8
63.2
65.3
75.0
57.6
Apr 2015
50.7
49.5
62.4
65.4
75.1
57.7
May 2015
50.7
49.4
62.8
65.8
75.6
58.0
Jun 2015
49.7
48.9
56.8
65.9
75.9
58.0
Jul 2015
50.3
49.4
58.9
65.8
76.0
57.7
Aug 2015
50.5
49.3
61.7
65.4
75.3
57.5
Sep 2015
51.0
49.9
62.0
65.0
74.6
57.5
Oct 2015
51.0
49.9
61.8
65.3
74.8
57.8
Nov 2015
51.0
49.8
62.6
65.3
74.4
58.1
Dec 2015
51.0
49.9
61.7
65.2
74.4
57.8
Jan 2016
50.9
49.7
62.0
65.1
74.2
57.8
Feb 2016
50.7
49.5
62.0
65.5
74.8
58.0
Mar 2016
50.4
49.0
62.9
65.7
75.2
58.1
Apr 2016
50.4
49.3
61.1
65.5
75.0
57.9
May 2016
50.4
49.3
61.3
65.5
75.0
57.9
Jun 2016
50.3
49.3
59.3
65.8
75.9
57.7
Jul 2016
50.9
49.9
60.2
65.8
76.0
57.7
Aug 2016
50.4
49.2
61.9
65.6
75.4
57.7
Sep 2016
51.1
49.8
63.6
65.5
75.0
57.9
Oct 2016
51.3
49.8
65.2
65.5
75.0
58.0
Nov 2016
50.5
49.1
63.1
65.5
74.7
58.1
Dec 2016
50.3
49.2
60.5
65.2
74.5
57.8
Jan 2017
49.6
48.7
58.3
65.3
74.6
57.9
Feb 2017
50.5
49.6
58.4
65.5
74.6
58.3
Mar 2017
49.8
48.7
59.4
65.6
74.8
58.3
Apr 2017
50.2
49.2
58.8
65.5
74.7
58.2
May 2017
48.7
47.8
57.6
65.6
75.1
58.1
Jun 2017
49.3
48.3
57.6
65.8
75.5
58.1
Jul 2017
48.9
47.8
58.8
66.1
75.9
58.2
Aug 2017
49.7
48.4
61.5
65.6
75.3
57.9
Sep 2017
50.6
49.2
63.3
65.7
75.1
58.2
Oct 2017
49.7
48.5
60.2
65.6
75.0
58.1
Nov 2017
49.9
48.8
60.9
65.4
74.3
58.2
Dec 2017
49.1
47.9
60.1
65.2
74.4
57.8
Jan 2018
48.6
47.7
57.8
65.1
74.4
57.6
Feb 2018
49.1
47.9
60.6
65.6
74.9
58.1
Mar 2018
49.8
48.6
60.9
65.5
74.7
58.1
Apr 2018
49.7
48.5
61.0
65.4
74.7
57.9
May 2018
48.8
47.7
58.9
65.6
75.1
57.9
Jun 2018
49.2
47.8
61.9
65.9
75.3
58.2
Jul 2018
49.1
47.9
60.8
65.9
75.3
58.3
Aug 2018
49.0
47.7
60.9
65.3
74.6
57.8
Sep 2018
49.6
48.2
62.5
65.3
74.3
58.1
Oct 2018
49.1
47.9
59.5
65.6
74.4
58.4
Nov 2018
49.6
48.3
62.0
65.5
74.2
58.4
Dec 2018
49.1
47.7
62.0
65.5
74.1
58.4
Jan 2019
49.3
48.0
61.1
65.5
74.3
58.4
Feb 2019
49.4
48.1
61.5
65.8
74.4
58.7
Mar 2019
49.4
48.1
60.9
65.7
74.6
58.5
Apr 2019
49.4
48.3
59.4
65.4
74.2
58.2
May 2019
49.1
48.4
55.5
65.5
74.6
58.1
Jun 2019
49.2
48.4
56.2
65.7
74.8
58.3
Jul 2019
49.4
48.5
57.1
66.0
75.4
58.3
Aug 2019
49.0
48.0
57.6
65.7
74.7
58.4
Sep 2019
49.2
48.2
58.4
65.8
74.4
58.7
Oct 2019
49.0
48.2
56.3
66.1
74.5
59.2
Nov 2019
48.8
47.8
57.7
65.9
74.5
58.9
Dec 2019
49.7
48.6
59.2
65.6
73.9
58.8
Jan 2020
49.3
48.0
60.7
65.6
74.2
58.6
Feb 2020
49.6
48.2
61.3
65.9
74.3
59.0
Mar 2020
48.8
47.8
57.8
65.2
73.7
58.2
Apr 2020
48.2
47.2
57.4
62.4
70.9
55.5
May 2020
48.2
47.3
56.4
63.2
71.7
56.2
Jun 2020
48.7
48.0
55.0
64.1
72.7
57.1
Jul 2020
48.0
47.4
53.3
64.3
73.0
57.2
Aug 2020
47.9
47.2
53.8
64.2
73.0
57.0
Sep 2020
47.9
46.7
58.1
63.9
72.6
56.7
Oct 2020
47.4
46.2
57.5
64.2
72.9
57.2
Nov 2020
47.9
46.5
59.2
64.0
72.4
57.1
Dec 2020
47.5
46.3
58.5
63.8
72.2
57.0
Jan 2021
48.0
47.0
57.2
63.6
72.3
56.5
Feb 2021
47.9
46.8
57.0
63.9
72.5
56.9
Mar 2021
47.6
46.3
58.5
64.0
72.4
57.1
Apr 2021
48.7
47.6
57.8
63.8
72.4
56.8
May 2021
48.5
47.3
59.1
63.9
72.6
56.8
Jun 2021
48.6
47.8
55.8
64.3
73.0
57.1
Jul 2021
47.8
47.0
54.8
64.5
73.5
57.1
Aug 2021
46.8
45.5
57.8
64.2
73.1
56.9
Sep 2021
47.1
45.6
59.4
64.1
72.8
57.0
Oct 2021
46.8
45.3
59.8
64.3
72.8
57.3
Of the 18.0 million veterans, most were men. Male veterans numbered 16.1 million, accounting for about 9 in 10 of all veterans. The labor force participation rate for male veterans was 45.3 percent in October 2021, while the labor force participation rate for female veterans was 59.8 percent.
Labor force participation rate for veterans by era of service, September 2008 to October 2021
Date
Gulf War-era II
Gulf War-era I
World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam-era
Other service periods
Sep 2008
83.2%
88.5%
38.6%
60.6%
Oct 2008
86.3
88.0
38.7
61.4
Nov 2008
85.1
88.2
40.1
61.2
Dec 2008
86.0
87.4
39.7
61.9
Jan 2009
84.6
87.5
40.0
61.3
Feb 2009
83.9
87.1
39.6
61.4
Mar 2009
83.8
87.2
39.1
61.2
Apr 2009
81.6
87.6
38.4
60.0
May 2009
83.5
88.9
39.3
60.5
Jun 2009
83.2
87.9
38.7
60.7
Jul 2009
84.3
89.0
37.9
59.6
Aug 2009
84.5
88.6
37.4
60.0
Sep 2009
83.9
87.4
37.5
59.1
Oct 2009
83.6
87.3
36.5
59.8
Nov 2009
82.3
86.8
37.5
58.6
Dec 2009
83.4
87.2
36.9
59.0
Jan 2010
80.8
87.1
36.9
58.8
Feb 2010
81.6
87.0
36.9
58.6
Mar 2010
81.4
87.0
36.1
58.9
Apr 2010
80.6
87.3
36.2
58.0
May 2010
81.4
87.3
36.3
59.8
Jun 2010
82.1
86.0
36.1
59.4
Jul 2010
84.4
85.4
36.3
59.9
Aug 2010
85.0
85.2
36.5
60.1
Sep 2010
83.3
84.8
36.5
57.1
Oct 2010
81.9
86.9
36.2
56.6
Nov 2010
83.5
87.5
35.5
56.5
Dec 2010
80.0
86.5
35.6
57.3
Jan 2011
80.3
85.0
35.4
56.5
Feb 2011
81.6
84.3
34.8
57.0
Mar 2011
79.6
84.0
34.1
56.2
Apr 2011
79.5
84.3
34.0
57.6
May 2011
80.3
83.3
34.4
59.1
Jun 2011
81.9
83.0
34.9
58.1
Jul 2011
80.3
83.3
34.7
58.4
Aug 2011
81.5
83.0
34.5
58.0
Sep 2011
82.3
83.0
33.7
57.9
Oct 2011
82.3
84.6
32.4
58.1
Nov 2011
83.1
83.7
32.5
57.7
Dec 2011
81.1
84.1
32.4
56.9
Jan 2012
80.2
83.6
31.3
56.2
Feb 2012
80.2
83.9
32.4
57.0
Mar 2012
80.5
84.7
32.9
56.3
Apr 2012
78.8
84.1
33.1
56.8
May 2012
79.2
84.8
33.9
57.0
Jun 2012
79.4
83.2
32.7
55.3
Jul 2012
79.3
82.3
32.6
55.7
Aug 2012
81.0
82.8
31.6
56.7
Sep 2012
82.1
83.3
32.1
57.1
Oct 2012
82.8
83.9
30.9
57.2
Nov 2012
82.4
83.2
30.7
57.6
Dec 2012
82.5
83.2
30.4
55.9
Jan 2013
81.0
83.4
30.6
55.7
Feb 2013
80.2
84.4
30.8
55.8
Mar 2013
79.1
83.9
31.0
53.5
Apr 2013
80.5
83.2
31.6
55.3
May 2013
82.5
83.0
31.2
55.9
Jun 2013
79.7
81.4
30.6
55.4
Jul 2013
79.0
82.4
29.9
56.2
Aug 2013
78.5
81.7
29.2
56.3
Sep 2013
80.0
85.0
29.2
55.8
Oct 2013
81.5
83.9
29.0
55.5
Nov 2013
82.0
84.7
28.2
55.2
Dec 2013
82.6
84.8
27.9
54.5
Jan 2014
80.1
83.2
28.6
52.2
Feb 2014
81.1
81.7
29.5
52.4
Mar 2014
81.8
82.1
29.7
52.2
Apr 2014
79.6
80.8
29.1
52.7
May 2014
80.0
82.0
28.6
51.4
Jun 2014
80.6
82.8
27.9
51.0
Jul 2014
79.9
82.5
27.5
51.7
Aug 2014
78.8
83.2
28.4
51.8
Sep 2014
78.4
84.2
28.4
54.8
Oct 2014
78.7
83.7
28.0
53.7
Nov 2014
78.5
82.3
27.1
52.7
Dec 2014
78.5
81.2
26.9
52.6
Jan 2015
79.5
82.2
27.1
51.3
Feb 2015
82.6
81.7
26.7
52.2
Mar 2015
82.4
80.8
27.0
51.8
Apr 2015
81.1
79.7
26.9
51.8
May 2015
81.6
80.2
26.5
51.5
Jun 2015
78.2
79.6
26.3
50.2
Jul 2015
79.1
80.2
26.8
50.9
Aug 2015
80.4
81.4
25.9
51.0
Sep 2015
80.8
81.3
26.0
52.6
Oct 2015
81.3
80.4
26.0
52.4
Nov 2015
82.9
79.0
25.7
52.6
Dec 2015
82.7
78.8
25.9
52.2
Jan 2016
83.0
80.9
25.5
50.5
Feb 2016
81.6
81.2
25.5
50.3
Mar 2016
80.3
81.6
25.1
50.0
Apr 2016
79.1
80.6
25.6
50.8
May 2016
80.2
80.3
25.2
50.5
Jun 2016
80.1
80.4
24.9
50.1
Jul 2016
82.4
79.3
25.0
50.9
Aug 2016
82.0
79.9
24.9
49.1
Sep 2016
80.5
82.1
25.3
50.6
Oct 2016
82.9
79.9
25.0
51.3
Nov 2016
82.8
79.2
23.3
50.9
Dec 2016
82.7
79.0
22.6
51.1
Jan 2017
82.2
77.5
22.3
49.7
Feb 2017
82.3
79.6
23.2
49.9
Mar 2017
79.4
80.3
23.1
48.8
Apr 2017
79.8
79.7
24.2
48.5
May 2017
79.4
78.1
22.5
46.5
Jun 2017
80.0
79.4
21.9
47.9
Jul 2017
80.2
77.7
22.5
46.4
Aug 2017
80.7
79.3
22.6
47.7
Sep 2017
80.3
81.1
22.9
49.6
Oct 2017
79.7
77.8
22.3
49.4
Nov 2017
82.2
78.8
22.3
49.5
Dec 2017
81.2
76.6
20.9
50.3
Jan 2018
80.1
77.8
20.7
48.6
Feb 2018
80.2
80.4
20.9
48.4
Mar 2018
82.2
78.8
21.2
49.5
Apr 2018
82.5
77.9
21.1
49.5
May 2018
79.5
77.1
20.9
48.6
Jun 2018
80.2
79.4
20.4
48.9
Jul 2018
79.5
79.7
21.1
47.5
Aug 2018
80.4
79.0
20.5
47.3
Sep 2018
81.4
79.9
21.0
47.0
Oct 2018
81.7
77.9
20.6
46.3
Nov 2018
82.6
77.5
21.4
46.3
Dec 2018
80.8
77.5
20.8
46.2
Jan 2019
81.4
77.0
21.1
46.4
Feb 2019
80.6
77.9
20.8
47.1
Mar 2019
81.0
78.0
19.7
48.2
Apr 2019
79.8
77.4
20.3
48.5
May 2019
80.5
75.9
20.2
47.3
Jun 2019
79.9
75.2
21.0
47.1
Jul 2019
80.8
76.2
20.6
46.7
Aug 2019
79.8
76.4
19.9
46.6
Sep 2019
80.3
75.9
20.5
46.2
Oct 2019
78.7
74.7
20.3
47.6
Nov 2019
78.4
74.0
20.8
46.6
Dec 2019
80.4
75.5
20.9
47.0
Jan 2020
79.0
75.9
20.7
46.4
Feb 2020
79.9
76.9
20.7
45.5
Mar 2020
79.5
75.0
19.1
46.4
Apr 2020
78.1
73.5
18.7
46.5
May 2020
79.1
74.3
17.8
46.0
Jun 2020
79.1
72.5
18.7
47.7
Jul 2020
78.7
75.4
17.5
44.3
Aug 2020
79.5
73.7
17.2
44.4
Sep 2020
79.6
71.3
17.5
45.5
Oct 2020
77.7
72.8
17.2
44.4
Nov 2020
77.8
73.5
17.6
44.8
Dec 2020
76.6
73.5
17.6
44.3
Jan 2021
77.4
76.3
17.3
43.9
Feb 2021
78.5
74.3
17.1
43.6
Mar 2021
78.7
74.1
16.8
42.2
Apr 2021
80.5
74.0
17.0
44.6
May 2021
79.4
73.7
16.7
45.3
Jun 2021
78.4
75.2
16.0
46.6
Jul 2021
78.7
73.3
15.8
44.0
Aug 2021
77.4
72.2
15.9
41.2
Sep 2021
78.7
71.3
16.0
41.2
Oct 2021
79.0
71.4
15.8
39.4
The difference in participation rates between veterans and nonveterans reflects, at least in part, the older age profile of veterans who served during World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam-era—all of whom are now over age 60. These veterans accounted for the largest share of the veteran population, at 35 percent (or 6.3 million) in October 2021. Older people, whether veterans or nonveterans, tend to have lower participation rates than younger people.
By period of service, Gulf War-era II veterans, who tend to be younger, had a labor force participation rate of 79.0 percent in October 2021. Gulf War-era I veterans had a labor force participation rate of 71.4 percent during this period. World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam-era veterans had a labor force participation rate at 15.8 percent. Veterans of other service periods had a participation rate of 39.4 percent in October 2021.
Note: Veterans are men and women who previously served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and were civilians when they were surveyed. People on active duty are not included in the survey. Gulf War era II (September 2001–present), Gulf War era I (August 1990–August 2001), Vietnam era (August 1964–April 1975), Korean War (July 1950–January 1955), World War II (December 1941–December 1946), and other service periods (all other time periods). Veterans could have served anywhere in the world during these periods of service. Veterans who served in more than one wartime period are classified only in the most recent one. Veterans who served during one of the selected wartime periods and another period are classified only in the wartime period.
United States Department of Labor
