During the past decade about two million young men and women have served their country by risking lives in wars conducted in Iraq and Afghanistan. August unemployment rates indicated a slight drop in those unemployed, but many lack jobs. For those who left military service since 2001, the overall unemployment rate was 9,8% which represented a drop from 13.3% in July.
However, those securing jobs are not being paid in a fashion that enables them to live a middle class life. Average hourly earnings actually dropped 3 cents in August to reach the level of $23.09 per hour. In other words, if one works forty hours a week the pay(before taxes or other deductions) would be $3,200 a month. After normal deductions this means about $2,700 a month. Survival yes, middle class life, no.
