Veterans’ standard of living in 2023 was slightly better than the average American when measured by higher median incomes, lower unemployment rates, and a reduced likelihood of poverty.
How many veterans are unemployed?
In 2023, 2.8% of veterans — around 241,000 people — were unemployed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The veteran population had a lower unemployment rate than non-veterans (3.6%).
Of all Americans, veteran and not, younger people tend to have the highest unemployment rate. This is true for veterans aged 18 to 24, whose unemployment rate of 7.8% is more than double the general veteran average. Veterans with a service-related disability also had a higher unemployment rate; it stood at 6.0% as of August 2023.
What industries do veterans work in?
Just under 8.4 million veterans were employed in 2023, with 22.5% working in government. Other major industries employing substantial numbers of vets include manufacturing (11.7% of veterans) and professional and business services (11.1%), which includes consulting, management, and accounting jobs. Women veterans were most likely to work in government (29.7%) or education and health services (21.7%).
What is the median income for veterans?
On average, employed veterans earn more than employed non-veterans. The Census Bureau reports that veterans’ median 2023 income was $52,122; the median income of adult non-veterans was $40,368.
How many veterans live in poverty?
Veterans are less likely than the general 18+ population to live below the poverty line. The Census Bureau estimates that 7.6% of veterans in 2023 (approximately 1.2 million people) reported incomes below the poverty level. The overall poverty rate for the US adult population is 11.5%.
What is the veteran homelessness rate?
The latest data on veteran homelessness shows a concerning reversal of a years-long downward trend. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates have veteran homelessness falling 55.3% from 2010 to 2022 before ticking up 7.4% in 2023; as of 2023, the US had 35,574 unhoused veterans. USAFacts has a lot more on how homelessness is measured in the US.
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How many veterans have a disability?
More than 4.8 million veterans, or 30.9% of vets, reported having at least one disability in 2023. The proportion of veterans with disabilities has risen in recent years — in 2010, only 25.5% of veterans reported having a disability. Veterans are nearly twice as likely to be affected by disabilities than the general adult public, 16.0% of whom report disabilities.
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Page sources and methodology
All of the data on the page was sourced directly from government agencies. The analysis and final review was performed by USAFacts.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Employment Situation of Veterans
Census Bureau
American Community Survey
