ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

Veterans are now one of the three most important demographic groups targeted by private-sector companies seeking to fill jobs, according to a new survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

In the survey of 400 human resources professionals and hiring managers, 48 percent ranked veterans as a “very important” recruiting priority, eclipsed only by women, at 51 percent, and people with advanced degrees, at 52 percent.

A slow-growing economy continues to be good for veterans, who experienced an overall unemployment rate of 4.3 percent in September. The rate was slightly higher—4.4 percent—for post-9/11 veterans, who include those of the Iraq and Afghanistan generations.

Veterans are doing better than shown by the overall 5 percent national unemployment rate, and doing very well considering that most of the 156,000 jobs created in September were in the professional, businesses services and health service areas that can be tough for recently separated soldiers to enter.