REDDING, Calif. \u2014 We\u2019re hearing from Northstate veterans about employment after their service.<\/p>\n
According to the U.S. Department of Labor<\/a>, in 2024, the annual average unemployment rate for veterans was 3%. In June 2025, the veteran unemployment rate was at 3.7%.<\/p>\n Administrators with RecruitMilitary said a hidden crisis is veteran underemployment.<\/p>\n National Veterans\u2019 Training Institute<\/a> representatives said in June 2022 that almost one third of veteran job seekers are underemployed, meaning they\u2019re employed less than full time or their positions are not consistent with their experience, training, or economic needs.<\/p>\n Redding Veterans Home resident Michael Van Cleemput told KRCR veterans are useful in the workplace.<\/p>\n \u201cThe military trains people, and they\u2019re valuable people,\u201d Van Cleemput said. \u201cThey\u2019re committed, and they\u2019re not afraid to be a team member… The team effort, our lives depend on it. And when we come out of the service, we still have that mentality.\u201d<\/p>\n Redding Veterans Home Veterans Service Officer Molly Watson, who is also a veteran, said it can be a struggle to transition to the workforce after service.<\/p>\n Watson utilized an Employment Development Department (EDD) program which offered mock interviews and resume building to help her find a fitting role.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of skills that come with being a veteran that we have to offer, but sometimes veterans don\u2019t know how to capture that in a resume,\u201d Watson said before adding, \u201cYou have a discipline, you have teamwork, you have adversity, the ability to accomplish a mission.\u201d<\/p>\n You can find resources for veterans on the EDD website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n