WASHINGTON -- Young Americans who answered the call to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan are coming home to find they are 40% more likely to be unemployed than other people their age.
The unemployment rate among young veterans is a full two points higher than the national average, and Congress wants to know why.
While the troops were overseas, they were falling behind other young Americans who were getting workplace experience and making the connections that are important to find work in a tough economy.
Some veterans who had jobs before they enlisted have come home to find that their old jobs are gone, despite laws that say their employers are supposed to hire them back.
Some employers say they're not sure how the experience soldiers have matches up with civilian jobs.
Some employers are wary of hiring veterans who have come home with injuries, and others don't take the time to listen to veterans' experience.
The new G.I. Bill is making things a little better, helping young veterans go to college.
Congress is trying to come up with some new ways to help with this problem.
Members have proposed things like expanding tax breaks for companies that hire young veterans.
One private group, called Hire Heroes, is getting money from companies like 7-Eleven and Anheuser-Busch to help find jobs for injured veterans.
