Military Spouse Facts Sheet

Check out the Women’s Bureau’s Military Spouses Fact Sheet on dol.gov/wb for insights into  collaborative efforts with various sectors to bolster job opportunities for military spouses.

Key Points:

• Objective: Our aim is to work alongside government agencies, private entities, non-profits, educational institutions, and labor organizations to foster increased employment prospects for military spouses.

• Quick Stats:

  • 92% of military spouses are women.
  • 53% are part of the labor force, compared to 76% of the general population.
  • Unemployment rate stands at 13%, nearly three times the national average (as of May 2017).
  • 89% have pursued some form of college education, with 30% holding a bachelor’s degree and 15% possessing an advanced degree.
  • Underemployment affects 31.6% of military spouses, many of whom desire full-time positions.
  • A significant portion (34%) work in licensed occupations, facing challenges in license transfer due to frequent relocations.

• Concerns Addressed:

  • Difficulty transferring occupational licenses across states due to frequent moves, hindering re-entry into the workforce.
  • Apprehension regarding job commitment duration, influenced by the relocation frequency of their service member spouses.

• Insights and Solutions:

  • Contrary to misconceptions, military spouse employment tenure aligns with the general population.
  • Collaborative efforts with the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) have led to initiatives like an online portal dedicated to military spouses, offering employment resources and guidance on license transfer.
  • Partnership with VETS facilitated the creation of the Military Spouse Interstate License Recognition Options interactive map, streamlining the process for military spouses to navigate license recognition across states during relocations.
  • Ongoing collaboration with various governmental and federal partners to expand job and career opportunities for military spouses.

• Women’s Bureau Initiatives:

  • Conducted listening sessions nationwide to directly engage with the military spouse community and comprehend their employment challenges.
  • Established a partnership with the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), resulting in the launch of an online portal dedicated to military spouses, equipped with a plethora of employment resources.
  • Collaborated with VETS to introduce the Military Spouse Interstate License Recognition Options interactive map, simplifying the complex landscape of license recognition across state lines for military spouses.
  • Engaged with other departmental and federal partners to further enhance employment and career avenues for military spouses.