Data Stories · Methodology

You're an Illinois veteran facing a big career decision.

This page gives you the public data and names what the numbers can't tell you. It won't say what to do. The trade-offs are yours to weigh.

Last refreshed: 2026-07-07 · Illinois focus (why Illinois? see below)

What are you weighing right now?

All seven paths are built out in full today. Pick the one closest to your situation.

Founder Start a business Full Career-changer New field or new employer Full Skill-builder Train into a new trade on the GI Bill Full Wealth-steward Build or keep wealth Full Stability-seeker Steady, lower risk Full Transitioning Just leaving service Full Advocate Community-builder Full

In more than one at once? That's normal. Pick the most pressing, or read the closest. You can come back and switch.

Want it tailored first? (optional)

What's your immediate next move?

This just orders what you see first. You can switch it on the next page.

What matters to you in this bet? Pick up to 5.

Skip any of this. The page still works, you'll just see the full table instead of a personalized one.

If you've separated from service, what year? (Leave blank if not applicable or you'd rather not say.)

Only used to flag time-sensitive benefit windows on the next page. Never required.

Everything you type here stays in your browser and is never sent anywhere. Analytics counts which options get picked (a short code, never your words). What gets collected →

Where the numbers come from

U.S. Census (veteran tables, business survival), Department of Labor (federal-contractor filings), Bureau of Labor Statistics (wages), Small Business Administration (lending, SDVOSB, Mentor-Protégé). Plus non-government research, cited inline where it's used: Kauffman, Brookings, and peer-reviewed studies.

Why Illinois

Illinois is where the data work is deepest right now. If your life goal is better served in another state, each built-out path shows a "Should you stay or go?" comparison. Tell me which states you're weighing with the Share feedback link at the bottom of this page and I'll prioritize them next.

What I collect

On this page: the values you pick, anything you type in "add your own," and gender / age band / separation year if you enter them stay in your browser to personalize what you see. Analytics counts which options get picked (a short code); what you type is never sent anywhere.
If you ask for updates: your email goes to Kit, the email service that runs the list, and stays there until you unsubscribe. One confirmation email comes first.
If you share feedback: your answers go to a Google Form that I read. One person, not a team. Totals may appear in update posts. Your typed text is never quoted, shown to other readers, or shared.
Analytics: anonymized usage counts only; the privacy page has the details and how to request deletion.

Before you go

Get updates Share feedback

Get updates when new data or a new path ships (one confirmation email first, unsubscribe anytime). Or answer three quick feedback questions; your answers tell me whether to keep building these.

☕ Buy me a coffee · offsets the data and build costs. Optional.

This map shows where federal contractors hire veterans; the data reflects filings, not endorsements. Choose any employer on your own research, not this analysis alone.

This product uses the US Department of Labor API but is not endorsed or certified by the US Department of Labor. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov. BLS data retrieved April 23, 2026. Content licensed CC BY 4.0.