Employment and Industries That Low-Income U.S. Veterans with Mental Illness Participate In.

OBJECTIVE:This study analyzed data from a nationally representative survey of low-income U.S. veterans with and without histories of mental illness to describe their employment status and industry. METHODS:A total of 1,022 low-income veterans, including 117 with a history of mental illness, were analyzed. RESULTS:Of the total sample, 22% were employed, and 29% with a history of mental illness were employed. Among employed veterans, their most common industries were Education and Health Service (24%-26%) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (15%-20%). Among unemployed veterans, 31% screened positive for alcohol use problems and 24% screened positive for major depressive disorder compared to 9% and 15% of currently employed veterans, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:Findings suggest that additional support for low-income veterans with mental illness in obtaining employment in different industries may help them increase their potential and reap the benefits of employment on mental health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).