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Career transitions are rarely linear. This is especially the case for veterans, transitioning service mMilitary spouses represent one of the most capable and overlooked segments of today’s workforce. Highly educated, adaptable, and experienced in navigating change, they bring a level of resilience that’s difficult to replicate. Despite these strengths, military spouses continue to face disproportionately high rates of unemployment and underemployment.

During Military Appreciation Month, we believe recognition of service should extend to the spouses who support our service members. It should highlight how these spouses’ careers are often shaped and disrupted by service. When we recognize all that military spouses bring to the table, we can open up opportunities that offer benefits at the individual, familial, and community level. 

The Reality Behind the Numbers

The data tells a clear story. According to the Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, military spouses experience a 21% unemployment rate, significantly higher than the current 4.3% civilian unemployment rate. Furthermore, military spouses earn about 38% less than their civilian counterparts. Even among those who are employed, many are working in roles that do not align with their education, skills, or career aspirations.

These outcomes are not the result of a lack of ambition or capability. They are driven by structural challenges: frequent relocation (every two to three years, on average—signifcantly higher than their civilian counterparts), inconsistent access to professional networks, licensing barriers across state lines, and employer misconceptions about long-term retention. 

At Hire Heroes USA, we see these patterns firsthand. They show up in daily conversations with clients who are ready to work, qualified to contribute, and actively seeking opportunities that match their experience—but struggling to find them.

The Invisible Impact of Underemployment 

Unemployment is only part of the story. Working in roles that fall below one’s qualifications or earning potential carries its own set of consequences.

For military spouses, underemployment can mean stalled career progression and diminished earning power over decades. These impacts compound with each move, making it increasingly difficult to build momentum in a long-term career.

This effect extends beyond the individual. Reduced earning potential affects household financial stability, while the stress of career disruption can influence broader family dynamics. At scale, these challenges also have implications for military retention. Research shows that military spouses who are dissatisfied with military life are more than six times more likely to want their active-duty service members to separate. 

“Underemployment can be incredibly disheartening,” shared Brooke Creek, a military spouse and Donor Relations Specialist at Hire Heroes USA. “I knew my worth and potential, but I was often seen as a liability by employers, not an investment. Each relocation meant starting over in a new city. Military families make it work because we have to, but the financial strain of trying to provide for your household on a Junior Enlisted income and part-time, inconsistent work can be an obstacle that some cannot overcome, deciding to leave service sooner than they'd planned.”

The Education vs. Opportunity Gap 

“Military spouses are one of the most educated segments of the workforce,” says Kelly Kelly, Hire Heroes USA’s Serving Spouses Program Manager and military spouse. “In our 2025 data, over 64% held a bachelor’s degree or higher.”

However, education doesn’t always translate into opportunity, as there’s a persistent gap between qualifications and job placement. “The majority of hires were in administrative, customer service, or clerical roles,” Kelly continues. In addition to degrees, many military spouses also hold advanced certifications and specialized training across a range of industries. But frequent relocation, employment gaps, and licensing barriers are often misinterpreted by employers, and lead to clients accepting entry-level roles despite being qualified for mid- to senior-level positions. 

Roles that align with a military spouse’s experience are often out of reach due to location constraints, employer hesitation, or rigid hiring practices. “Degrees and certifications don’t always translate because the system still prioritizes linear career paths, something military spouses rarely have,” Kelly says. 

The Economic Case for Employment

When military spouses are fully employed, the benefits are immediate and measurable. Increased household income strengthens financial stability and contributes to local economies, particularly in communities with a strong military presence.

Closing the employment gap represents a significant economic opportunity. Highly-skilled job candidates who are currently underutilized could be contributing at a much higher level, driving productivity, innovation, and growth across industries.

This is not simply a workforce development issue. It’s an economic one.

What Employers Gain by Hiring Military Spouses 

For employers, hiring military spouses is a strategic advantage.

Military spouses bring a unique combination of skills gained from their day-to-day experiences dealing with change and uncertainty. They are experienced in navigating ambiguity, integrating quickly into new environments, and maintaining performance under pressure.

Cate Bastian, a military spouse and Senior Employer Success Specialist at Hire Heroes USA, says, “You get really good at quickly figuring things out. We are constantly navigating change—new cities, new jobs, rebuilding our network, finding community, and establishing a new normal—so adaptability just becomes second nature.”

Employers who create pathways for military spouse hiring often see strong outcomes in both performance and retention—particularly when roles offer flexibility and room for growth. “What I often hear from employers is how impressed they are with the work ethic and comfort with ambiguity that military spouses bring,” Bastian says. “Once organizations tap into this talent pool, it’s usually something they want to keep investing in.”

Rethinking Hiring Practices 

Despite this potential, traditional hiring systems often create barriers that unintentionally exclude military spouses. 

Bastian says this is one of the biggest challenges, and one she has personally experienced. “A lot of traditional hiring systems simply weren’t built with military spouses, or mobile talent more broadly, in mind, which means strong candidates are often screened out early,” she says. “Things like résumé gaps or multiple short-term roles can raise red flags on paper, even though they’re often the result of a PCS or family needs—not a lack of experience, capability, or commitment.”

Location limitations can also hinder military spouses’ progress, like when roles have in-office requirements, or if remote work isn’t available. 

However, Bastian says current changes in the workforce, such as skills-based hiring and flexible work structures, can be advantageous for military spouses. “Instead of focusing only on job titles or how long someone stayed in a role, employers are starting to look at what someone can actually do,” Bastian says. “That’s a big win for military spouses, who often bring diverse, transferable skills built across different roles, industries, and environments.”

Remote work and portable careers can also reduce the career disruption that negatively impacts military families. They provide necessary flexibility and economic certainty in times of change, such as moves, allowing military spouses to carry their work with them wherever they go. 

Small changes in perspective can open the door to a significant and largely untapped talent pool. “From what I’m seeing across our employer partners, the companies leaning into these shifts aren’t just supporting military spouses—they’re building stronger, more adaptable teams overall,” Bastian says. 

The Role of Organizations Like Hire Heroes USA

Organizations like Hire Heroes USA play a critical role in closing this gap. “Our Career Advisors help military spouses translate their experiences into language employers understand,” Kelly says. “That includes reframing non-linear career paths, volunteer work, and life experience into measurable, skills-based achievements.” 

Through personalized career coaching, military spouses learn to develop strong résumés, shape their experience for market demands, and confidently communicate what they bring to the table. “It’s about shifting the narrative from ‘gaps and disruption’ to ‘adaptability, resilience, and proven capability,’” Kelly adds. 

Just as importantly, employers are given a clearer understanding of the value this community brings—helping to align talent with opportunity in a more effective and intentional way.

From Appreciation to Action 

Military spouses are not an overlooked workforce because they lack visibility. They are hidden because the systems designed to support employment have not fully adapted to include them.

The talent is there. The capability is proven. The opportunity lies in recognizing both, and acting on it. During Military Appreciation Month, employers have a chance to move beyond acknowledgment and toward meaningful engagement. 

“Military spouses just get things done. Employers should embrace these highly resilient, adaptable, and educated talent pools when they're looking for workers,” Creek says. “Military spouses have the capability to make companies stronger, more versatile, and should be recognized for it. When military spouses are hired, employers are not only supporting our military families, but strengthening the community as a whole.” 

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Hire Heroes USA is dedicated to empowering veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses to succeed in the civilian workforce. Offering one-on-one personalized career coaching, résumé assistance, interview preparation, and job search support, Hire Heroes USA has helped thousands build meaningful careers. Visit www.hireheroesusa.org to access free resources and take the next step in your career journey.