Job fairs drew big numbers as unemployment rate declined in 2021

Job fairs drew big numbers as unemployment rate declined in 2021

After a number of successful virtual career fairs in 2020, The American Legion Veterans Employment & Education Division continued to find ways in 2021 to help job-seeking veterans and their families find new careers in the midst of the pandemic.

The primary leader in that role has been the Department of Texas, in collaboration with the Texas Veterans Commission and Texas Workforce Commission. After the Sept. 15, 2020, virtual career fair drew 168 registered businesses and 782 registered job seekers, three more events took place in 2021.

A Feb. 9 virtual event drew 261 registered businesses and 937 registered job seekers; a June 10 virtual event drew 322 registered businesses and 837 registered job seekers; and a Sept. 22 hybrid event drew 250 registered businesses and 259 registered job seekers to the virtual event, and 37 registered businesses and 115 registered job seekers in person at the Omni Austin Hotel in Austin, Texas.

 

Veterans unemployment rate stays steady

The most recent numbers released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show the unemployment rate among all veterans was 3.9 percent in November, the same as the month before.

That marks four consecutive months in which the estimated veterans unemployment rate has been below 4 percent. The COVID-19 pandemic had a marked impact on the unemployment rate among veterans—the rate had been under 4 percent for 23 consecutive months before March 2020.

The unemployment rate for all veterans jumped to 11.7 percent in April 2020 but — with some fluctuation — decreased to 3.6 percent in August 2021. The unemployment rate remained at 3.6 percent in September.

The overall national unemployment rate dropped from 4.6 percent in October to 4.2 percent in November.