Veteran unemployment

Name: WORLD
Price range: $

Despite Virginia's low unemployment rate, military veterans struggle to find permanent jobs

Despite high unemployment rates across the nation, Virginia's unemployment rate was unchanged in June and remains below the national average.

The Virginia Employment Commission says the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in June was 6 percent. That's the same rate as May and down from 6.9 percent in June 2010. It has been trending down since peaking at 7.2 percent from December 2009 to February 2010.

Nonfarm payroll employment added 11,100 jobs in June, the fifth consecutive monthly increase. The agency said 55,022 Virginians were receiving regular unemployment benefits in June. That's up from 52,934 in May and down from 66,555 in June 2010.

The national rate for June was 9.2 percent. Unemployment rates rose in more than half of U.S. states in June, evidence that slower hiring is affecting many parts of the country.

In spite of Virginia's lower numbers, young veterans are having difficulty finding permanent jobs. Many are forced to work in video game or retail stores, due to their inability to find more stable employment.

"The average national unemployment rate for male veterans aged 18-24 who have served their country since September 2001 is staggering: 28.3 percent were out of work in the second quarter of this year, up from 21.9 percent for all of last year, according to the Department of Labor," according to Reuters.com.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is working to help aid veterans in their search for jobs. They are connecting veterans with employers looking to hire.

According to Reuters, veterans who have "specialized positions" in the military, such as those who are doctors or lawyers, have an easier times finding jobs. Those who are medics often have a difficult time landing a job.

"Jarhead, that's what we're called," Jones, a former marine, told Reuters. "A lot of people are like 'Oh, you're a jarhead, you've got nothing in there. All you know how to do is fight.'"

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Join the conversation on this article.