[Velshi:] "Your $$$$$" today. The unemployment rate for July, 9.5 percent. We'll get a new number on on Friday. But July was a savings that was in June. One group is dealing with troubling numbers well above the national average. Those are veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tony Harris, a special guest.
[Harris:] Doctor.
[Velshi:] Not only a special guest on the show, which we're thrilled about, a special guest talk about being on my turf on the money topic Tony.
[Harris:] I think I'm all over your marks here. It's comfortable. It's good.
[Velshi:] Feel at home. My marks are your marks.
[Harris:] I've got to tell you something. We have and Ali, we've been following this story for a while now. We've been watching these amazing pictures of these families being reunited. We're talking about Iraq war veterans who have been coming home to their families in wonderful receptions like this one. You remember this from a couple of weeks ago.
[Velshi:] Yes.
[Harris:] The 4th the Stryker Brigade returning to the Seattle area. And all of the hugs and the kisses and the families being reunited again. Here's the thing. There were a lot of there were a lot of service personnel who have finished their enlistments. And now it's time to transition, right, from a military job into the civilian work force. And, as we talk about all the time, this is a difficult and challenging time to be looking for a job. Take a look at this. You mentioned it just a moment ago. The national unemployment rate stands right now at 9.5 percent. But take a look at the number for returning veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. We're talking about Iraq and Afghanistan veterans from 2001 on. Look at the unemployment figure. It's at 11.8 percent. And this is from the Department of Labor. If you take a look at this is up. This is actually up from last year, OK, where it was about 9 here we go, 9.8 percent last year. What was the overall national unemployment rate that time last year? It was at 9.4 percent. So you see the trend here. But let's get the statistics. Let's talk about individuals and what this means for returning veterans, what it means for them and their statements to try to transition, try to find work to take care of their family. This is Richard Wilt, and listen to how difficult a struggle it has been for him to find work.
[Richard Wilt, Former U.s. Army:] I was putting out resume after resume, I would have some interviews. And you just I just didn't get hired. I opted to go back overseas, because I couldn't find work. It was just I volunteered to go back to Iraq.
[Harris:] So that's what he did. So he went back and he did another tour in Iraq. He was that frustrated for him as he was attempting to transition and to find a job to take care of his family in this difficult, difficult jobs environment. So what do we want to do here? We want to give returning vets every opportunity they can to be successful and to navigate this. So we found a Web site that we think can be helpful. Michael, let's take a look at this Web site. It is careeronestop.orgmilitarytransition. Doesn't get any simpler than that, Ali. And once you go there, you will see a number of links. Some that we want to point out for you right now. For example, there was a link matching military skills to civilian jobs. I don't have to tell you how important that would be. There is another link that is titled, where and how to get certifications and licenses for various jobs. How something how about something as simple as resume crafting? There is a link for that, as well. How to prepare resumes and a state-by-state link to jobs, banks in the various states across the country. So what we're suggesting here is that you just if you're a returning veteran trying to transitionmilitarytransition to maybe get you started Ali.
[Velshi:] Tony, you know, a few years ago, it was a different economy.
[Harris:] Yes.
[Velshi:] But one of the things I remember talking to people who represent companies that franchise businesses out, and they used to tell me they loved having veterans back, because to run your own business, to franchise, requires a certain amount of discipline and they found
[Harris:] Yes, mission-focused.
[Velshi:] Yes, they're totally mission-focused,.
[Harris:] Yes.
[Velshi:] They can follow directions. They can make it work. They can problem-solve. Veterans are very do very well in small businesses. I know it's a tough economy to get a loan for a small business, but they do well in them.
[Harris:] And and let's be clear. The other issue on this that we're trying to get greater clarity on is are the returning veterans, do they have the necessary educational skills? Do they have the tools, right?
[Velshi:] Yes.
[Harris:] In order to compete in this work force. It's something that we've talked about a lot, and it's something that we will continue to follow.
[Velshi:] Tony, it's a real pleasure to have you on this side of 1 p.m. Eastern. What a pleasure to see you. You have yourself a great day.
[Harris:] Yes. You too, sir. And listen, if you want to tune in to get more information about money every weekend, we put a lot into topics just having to do with your money on a show here at CNN called "YOUR $$$$$." Saturday, 1 p.m. Eastern, Sunday at 3 p.m. Eastern. We talk about investing. We talk about jobs. In fact, this weekend it's going to be all about jobs because of that big jobs report we're expecting on Friday. There is technology out there that you can put that can put you into a whole new world. And it does it by turning you into a human hamster. It's pretty cool stuff. Stick around.