Approximately 200,000 veterans leave the military every year, and finding the right career after service consistently ranks as one of the top concerns for them. That's why InMyArea.com crunched data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify the states with the best veteran hiring track records — as well as the worst.
InMyArea.com used the BLS data to compare states across a half dozen different categories including government hiring practices, unemployment rates, median income, veteran business ownership, and job training investment per veteran. Which state scored highest on their scale?
New Jersey was first or second-best in three of the different categories. The state offers veterans "absolute preference" meaning they leapfrog all other applicants even if they appear less qualified. New Jersey, on average, spends $676 for job training per veteran in the state, and its overall veteran unemployment rate is 2 percent.
How does this compare with the state that came in last?
Ohio's average veteran unemployment rate is 4.8 percent, significantly higher than the national average of 3.6 percent. Overall, Ohio only made it out of the bottom quarter of states in two categories — veteran-owned businesses and median income. It was among the 10 worst in every other category.
InMyArea.com's review identified several other interesting trends in veteran unemployment. Colorado and the District of Columbia have the highest veteran unemployment rates with 5.8 and 6.5 percent respectively. The median income for working veterans is highest in Virginia at $56,140 and lowest in Arkansas at $33,584. If you're looking to start a veteran-owned business, your odds are best in Oklahoma and South Carolina.
To see the full report from InMyArea.com click here.
To view the Connecting Vets Employer of the Week series on companies committed to hiring and supporting veterans across the country click here.
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