November 11, 2010: The U.S. Labor Department recently reported that the unemployment for veterans was 8.3 percent, versus a general rate of 9.6 percent. More recent (since September 11, 2001) veterans have a rate of 10.6 percent. That is more in line with non-veterans of the same age, but lower. As veterans get older, they tend to have a much lower (20 percent or more lower) unemployment rate than their non-veteran peers. That was the experience with Vietnam veterans. But 25 percent of those vets were draftees, while all the current vets are volunteers. Recruiting standards have been raised since the draft ended in 1973. Today's veterans are physically, mentally and educationally superior to their non-veteran peers. That ultimately results in lower unemployment.