When active duty service members transition out of the military and into the civilian workforce, they can encounter obstacles. Companies that want to hire veterans may not know how, and veterans may have difficulty communicating their skills and experience to hiring managers.
But resources do exist to help veterans find civilian employment, and many employers are actively looking for ways to add more veterans to their teams. Unfortunately, there aren’t as many resources for another frequently overlooked group: military spouses.
The spouses of service members face major challenges, such as long deployments and frequent moves, in their professional lives. Military spouse unemployment rates have ranged from 20% to 25% from 2007 to 2017, according to data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. And research from military-focused nonprofits suggests that underemployment rates may be as high as 35% to 40%. Many military spouses work in part-time or seasonal jobs when they would prefer full-time or permanent work.
York Solutions’ Barriers to Entry (B2E) program, which offers paid training designed to help underserved groups launch careers in IT, is available to both veterans and military spouses. B2E is a win-win for both employers and job seekers. Companies gain access to a new pipeline of highly skilled talent, and groups that are often disregarded – like military spouses – get the opportunity to build transferable skills in a fast-growing field.
Here are a few of the many advantages of employing military spouses:
They are educated.
Some employers might be wary of hiring people who will have to move in a few years, but ignoring military spouses means missing out on a diverse pool of talent. Military spouses are more educated than most working Americans, according to Department of Defense data; 88% have some education after high school, 34% have a college degree, and 15% have a postgraduate degree. And while military families do often move every two to four years, the average employee switches jobs at around the same rate.
They are adaptable.
Military spouses understand change and unpredictability better than anyone, and they have learned to be flexible, creative problem-solvers. They have handled cross-country or international moves, navigated bureaucratic frustrations, and landed on their feet in unfamiliar situations, often while their spouses were deployed on the other side of the world. They know how to think quickly and manage stress calmly, traits that are valuable in any workplace.
They have a wide range of experiences.
Military spouses come from diverse backgrounds, and they bring varied skills, experiences, and perspectives to the companies they work for. They are adept at building relationships with people from all walks of life, and they excel at getting things done under pressure.
Learn more about the advantages of the Barriers to Entry program.