In the United States, one in five military spouses who want to work remain unemployed, a statistic that has persisted for nearly a decade (Defense Personnel Analytics Center, 2021). This ongoing employment crisis affects not only economic and financial security but also health and well-being. In response, numerous innovative employment initiatives have emerged in both corporate and nonprofit sectors.
This presentation employs a socio-ecological framework to explore the who, what, when, where, and why of cutting-edge military spouse recruitment and retention programs. It will highlight how these programs address the multiple intersecting barriers to employment faced by military spouses. Attendees will gain valuable insights and tools to better support twenty-first-century military spouse job seekers in accessing and maintaining employment throughout the military family life cycle.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand current research on how military spouse un- and underemployment influences military family financial, physical, and social health.
- Apply a socio-ecological framework to diagnosis barriers to maintaining employment through the military family life cycle.
- Learn new Department of Defense, employer and non-profit resources that address holistic military spouse employment needs.
