Written by Jason Sidock
Military spouses face considerable challenges when looking to obtain and have a meaningful career. It is not easy packing up and moving to a new location, often thousands of miles away, in another state or overseas every few years. Unfortunately for military spouses, it is not their needs but that of the United States Military that come first, when you are married to someone serving in the military.
An area that creates an obstacle for military spouse employment is occupational licensing regulations. According to a Blue Star Families study, as many as 34% of military spouses work in a profession requiring licensing or certification, primarily in the health and education-related fields. A recent DoD survey found that one in five military spouses who work in a licensed profession waited ten months or more to get their credentials after a move. That same study found that the unemployment, underemployment, and reduced labor force participation among military spouses cost the U.S. economy almost $1 billion per year. Military spouse unemployment remains five times higher than the civilian population, and those who are employed earn much less than their counterparts.
Military spouses are usually well educated and highly qualified for a whole host of careers. Frequent moves make it difficult for them to stay on a consistent career path. Having to switch jobs leaves little room for professional growth or getting established within a company. Some employers shy away from hiring military spouses because they know they will eventually be leaving the company. Military spouses understand commitment, taking risk, professionalism, and creativity, all of which are traits of a great entrepreneur.
A quick search on the computer allows a military spouse to find the vast number of resources and advice available to start and execute a successful small business.
According to an article from Military.com, military spouses get exclusive help to start and run their businesses. This help comes in many forms. There are Small Business Administration (SBA) programs, exclusive access to cash for start-up, and other business loans. Military spouses are eligible for almost all of the same SBA benefits as most active-duty members and veterans.
In an article written by Hannah Becker for MOAA.org, she outlines seven free business training resources for military spouse entrepreneurs. Those seven resources are Dog Tag Bakery Fellowship, Veterans Business Outreach Center, Bunker Labs, SCORE, LinkedIn Learning, Boots to Business, and SBA’s Learning Center. These programs include everything from a five-month immersive entrepreneurial experience to educational learning about cash lending programs and so much more.
It is through the vast number of non-profits and other governmental organizations, that make resources available to military spouses, that they have choices about being a small business owner while being a military spouse.
