Obama Economy Fails Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans

President Obama promised to create jobs and improve the economy. Three and a half years of his policies have left those promises unfulfilled for the economy as a whole, and for veterans returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars specifically.

Unemployment Rate for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Labor Market Activity for Gulf War II Era Veterans

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics / RPC Calculations

Failed Policies for America’s Veterans

In February 2009, President Obama signed into law his $833 billion stimulus bill, promising the deficit spending would prevent the unemployment rate from going above eight percent, and that the national unemployment rate would be below six percent by now. Section 1221 was specifically supposed to provide incentives to hire unemployed veterans.

For the 43rd consecutive month, unemployment is above eight percent—a level it was never supposed to reach once the stimulus was enacted. Despite President Obama’s belief that the private sector is “doing fine,” the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the number of unemployed people and the unemployment rate “have shown little movement thus far in 2012.” The President’s policies have consistently failed to produce the jobs he claimed they would. The best way to create jobs for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans is to implement solutions that will create a stronger U.S. economy.