According to Recruit Military, as of 2022, there were 710,000 military spouses — of which 90% are women — married to active-duty servicemembers, National Guardsmen, and reservists across the country and around the world. Military spouses play a pivotal role in managing the household while their counterpart is protecting the country. They often look after children, handle household chores, and manage finances, while also providing emotional support to their partner during a time of need.  

Military Spouses and the Job Market 

Most military spouses play a much larger role than just fulfilling the typical household tasks and many have full-time jobs. Research from Recruit Military found the following statistics about MilSpouses:  

• 53% take part in the workforce (compared to 76% of the general population) 
• 35% are looking for either full or part-time work 
• 63% of those in the workforce are under-employed 
• 80% have at least some college education 
• 30% hold a four-year degree 
• 15% have a graduate degree 

Military spouses can be highly qualified candidates amid the job market. Because of their unique lifestyle and background, they have developed critical skills such as time management, project management, communication, community service, and more. 

For military spouses, it can be a challenge to find an employer that understands their distinctive lifestyle, which often includes Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) orders every few years and other stressors unique to military life that may complicate a traditional career path. 

Help Finding Employment 

To help overcome the challenges faced by MilSpouses, Blue Star Families, Hiring Our Heroes, and the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) Military Spouse Employment Partnership established an agreement to encourage employers, both government and private sector, to hire military spouses. This initiative will: 

• Help with job transferability 
• Provide remote and telework options 
• Provide paid leave for PCS moves 

Another resource is the DOD Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) program, which offers education, career counseling, training help and much more. More information about it is available on the Military OneSource website.   

How AAFMAA Helps Military Spouses 

AAFMAA has proudly signed on to the Blue Star Families 4+1 Commitment and partnered with Hiring Our Heroes, Military Spouse Employment Partnership to advance military spouse employment. 

AAFMAA’s SpouseLink network connects military spouses around the world and offers support, inspiration and advice for military spouse employment, among other topics. and has partnered with Spouse-ly and Twelve Million Plus to encourage military spouse entrepreneurship and community.  

For more information about how AAFMAA supports military spouses, or if you’d like to learn more about our partnerships, call us at 800-522-5221 or email [email protected]. 

This article was originally published June 5, 2018.