Jobless numbers jump for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
In January they went up from about 10 percent to nearly 12 percent.
That's while figures for other Americans stay about the same.
"It's pretty hard out here for a veteran right now," says Army Veteran John Young as he searches for jobs at the Central Texas Workforce Center in Killeen.
John has been hunting for a job for a year while earning a human resources degree from Texas A&M.
"It's really weighing on my confidence," he said.
John has five years of HR experience in the military, handling as many as 12 hundred troops.
"I was hoping that would really help me find a job, help employers actually look at me, and say this guy is actually trying, but as of right now, no hits," John said.
That's because like many veterans, he doesn't yet have the degree most employers require.
It's the same story for former tank driver Johnterio Townsend.
"I do have two daughters, so I'm trying my best to get out here," Johnterio said.
He's been looking for a customer service job for about a month.
"It was like starting all over again, starting from rock bottom, and building myself up," said Johnterio.
Significant downsizing and more people being allowed to leave the military are causing veteran unemployment numbers to rise.
Wendy Ann Damon with the Central Texas Workforce Center says it could get worse before it gets better.
She says, "It's going to rise for a little bit, then we're going to hit a stability point, and then potentially even decrease, as people start to go back to work."
In the meantime, John presses onward.
"It's hard, it's hard, and it's just an every day struggle."
Reporter: Sophia Stamas sstamas@kcentv.com
Photographer: Chris Buford cbuford@kcentv.com
