Veterans unemployment rate hits 11.3%

The number of unemployed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is now almost the same as the number of service members currently deployed in support of those two wars, according to new Labor Department numbers. A key member of Veterans of Foreign Wars said the data indicates that the government needs to do more to help separating combat veterans find jobs and that veterans need to think about their options, including using the improved GI Bill to attend college while also getting a living stipend,. Labor Department figures released Friday show the nation's unemployment rate has now reached 9.7 percent–the highest in 23 years–and the rate among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is 11.3 percent.