Veteran Spouses' Employment and Higher Education Experiences

Background: According to the Department of Defense Manpower Data Center, there were approximately 725,877 spouses of Active Duty members and approximately 413,295 spouses of Reserve and Guard members in 2010. Of these military spouses, 90% reported that they want to work, with 55% reporting that they need to work (Maury & Stone, 2014). However, only 57% of military spouses are in the labor force, compared to 75% of civilian spouses (Blue Star Families, 2016). Little research has been done with veteran spouses to understand their educational attainment or employment rates, and what programs are needed to support their higher education and careers after the family leaves military service. This study surveyed spouses of military veterans in Texas regarding their experiences pursuing higher education and employment during and after military service.

Methods: Data were collected using a cross-sectional survey design. The survey was administered in English online and snowball sampling was used through Facebook, and by emailing members of the Texas Veteran Spouse Network and veteran service providers throughout Texas who were asked to forward the survey to their clients. The survey addressed  military service history, employment history, educational degrees earned, time to complete them and whether military service influenced their higher education or employment pursuits.

Results: The sample of spouses was 90% married, 84% White, 64% had children, and the majority had spouses who had served in the Army. Ninety-three percent reported that the quality of employment support programs for veteran spouses are either very low, low or fair, whereas only 18% felt there was good or high availability of employment support programs for veteran spouses in their state. Eighty percent reported that the quality of educational support programs for veteran spouses are either very low, low or fair, and only 20% said there was good or high availability of these programs. Qualitative analysis of text responses to essay questions revealed that spouses had a range of experiences where aspects of military service such as frequent geographic relocation and low availability of reputable universities affected some respondents’ ability to finish degrees. Many reported that their careers were stunted due to regular relocation that led them to start at the bottom of industries they worked in at each new military location.

Implications: These survey results suggest that more support programs that address military veteran spouses’ employment and higher education are needed. By better understanding that many veteran spouses can benefit from additional services, programs can be designed and funded, in much the same way that veterans receive educational and employment support. By surveying them about their needs and understating about what programs have benefitted them as well as those that are still needed, we can offer research to inform policymaking in this area. By promoting the spouses’ careers, the military veteran family, including the veteran, can improve their standard of living. In families where a veteran may have suffered from psychological or physical injuries related to military service, new programming that supports spouses’ higher level of employment is essential.