Unemployment rates for veterans who have served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have been higher than for the U.S. population as a whole. The rates for veterans in Illinois have been lower than for veterans in most neighboring states. Here is a sampling of unemployment rates from 2011:
Nationally
For veterans who have served since the 2001 terror attacks: 12.1%
For the overall U.S. population (at year's end): 8.5%
Midwest, by state:
Illinois: 9.5%
Iowa: 11.8
Indiana: 15.7
Michigan:14.4
Minnesota: 11.7
Missouri: 9.2
Ohio: 19.4
Wisconsin: 9.7
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics