While Illinois veterans are faring better than most others nationwide in terms of finding work, they still face challenges.
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics says the average unemployment rate last year for Illinois veterans who served after the 2001 terror attacks was 9.5 percent. The unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans nationwide was 12.1 percent.
Veterans say they're struggling to translate their experience into a civilian workplace and to keep military jargon off their resumes. They find themselves having to rely on informal networks for job tips. Illinois says it has made vets a priority, creating programs aimed at linking younger veterans with employers, and it offers a veterans grant that guarantees free tuition at public universities.
