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Jobless rate for Gulf War-era II veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, or both locations was 3.4 percent in August 2025

June 01, 2026

In August 2025, 39 percent of Gulf War-era II veterans (defined as veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time since September 2001) reported serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, or both locations. The unemployment rate for these veterans, at 3.4 percent, changed little over the year. The rate for Gulf War-era II veterans who served elsewhere in the world, at 2.3 percent, also changed little over the year. The rates for these groups were little different from each other in August 2025.

The unemployment rate of Gulf War-era II veterans who served only in Afghanistan was 5.1 percent in August 2025. Those who served only in Iraq had an unemployment rate of 2.1 percent in August 2025. These rates were also little different from each other.

Unemployment rates of Gulf War-era II veterans, 18 years and over, by location of service, August 2025
Location of serviceUnemployment rate (percent)

Served in Iraq, Afghanistan, or both[1]

3.4

Served in Iraq[2]

2.1

Served in Afghanistan[3]

5.1

Served in both locations[4]

2.3

Served elsewhere

2.3

[1] Refers to veterans who served in Iraq at anytime since March 2003 and veterans who served in Afghanistan at anytime since October 2001. Also includes veterans who served in both countries.

[2] Includes all veterans who served in Iraq at any time since March 2003, whether or not they also served in Afghanistan.

[3] Includes all veterans who served in Afghanistan at any time since October 2001, whether or not they also served in Iraq.

[4] Veterans who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan during the designated dates are also included in the totals of each location above.

NOTE: Veterans are men and women who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and were not on active duty at the time of the survey. Gulf War-era II veterans served anywhere in the world at any time since September 2001. Data are not seasonally adjusted.

These data are from the Current Population Survey (CPS) August 2025 supplement that collected additional information about veterans on topics such as service-connected disability and veterans' current or past Reserve or National Guard membership. We have more information about veteran employment and unemployment at “Employment Situation of Veterans — 2025.” 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. Iraq veterans include all those who served in Iraq at any time since March 2003, whether or not they also served in Afghanistan. Afghanistan veterans include all those who served in Afghanistan at any time since October 2001, whether or not they also served in Iraq.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Jobless rate for Gulf War-era II veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, or both locations was 3.4 percent in August 2025 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2026/jobless-rate-for-gulf-war-era-ii-veterans-who-served-in-iraq-afghanistan-or-both-locations-was-3-4-percent-in-august-2025.htm (visited June 02, 2026).