News
Why Higher Education Makes a Viable Career Choice for Military Spouses
HigherEdMilitary
Kindel Media/Pexels
Military spouses face unique challenges in the job market and are often overlooked when it comes to stable full-time employment in their career fields due to frequent moves and the constant demands of their active-duty spouse. However, it's important to note that military spouses are highly adaptable and committed, often seeking long-term employment opportunities despite the potential for relocation. In 2021, the unemployment rate for civilian spouses of active-duty military members was 21%, nearly four times the national rate of 5.3%. About one-third of the employed military spouses work part-time despite preferring to work full-time. To respond to this concern, our current administration's First Lady's Joining Forces initiative is "working with employers to create more flexible, transferable, and remote job opportunities for military spouses so they can balance the demands of military life while building sustainable, long-term careers." As such, the shift to remote work and flexible schedules in higher education allows more employment opportunities for military spouses.
The Shift to Remote Work in Higher Education
The shift to online education has been a topic of conversation in higher education for many years. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work in higher education is likely here to stay. According to an EDUCAUSE survey, more than half of higher education employees want more remote work options. Some universities have found that remote work can improve staff recruitment, performance, and morale. This shift allows institutions to collect from a more extensive talent pool, including military spouses.
The Experiences of Military Spouses
Military spouses, through their complex experiences, develop a unique skillset that is a testament to their resilience. Frequent relocation fosters adaptability and flexibility; managing the household and navigating through challenges alone demonstrates exceptional organization and problem-solving; and building connections with the broader military-connected community showcases their diversity and cultural competency. These traits and skills, born out of their resilience, are invaluable to the workplace but are often overlooked due to the frequent relocation and demanding nature of their spouse's profession.
5 Skills that Military Spouses Bring to Higher Education
- Adaptability and Flexibility
Adaptability and flexibility are vital skills in higher education due to the constantly changing circumstances within institutions. Military spouses' ability to be adaptable and flexible allows them to seamlessly integrate into any higher education team, bringing invaluable traits.
2. Organization
It is no secret that organizational skills are crucial for success in any profession. However, military spouses bring a unique organizational skill set due to the demanding nature of their spouses' service.
3. Problem-Solving
Military spouses develop problem-solving skills due to their spouse's service, given the many obstacles and barriers they may face while the service member is deployed. These unique experiences create the problem-solving skills needed to succeed in the workplace.
4. Diversity
The military's diverse population enhances military spouses' exposure to a diverse community of individuals. The skill set required to form relationships and build a community from diverse groups is vital in higher education and valued by hiring managers.
5. Cultural Competence
Cultural competence is an essential component of serving military-connected communities in higher education, and what better individuals to serve this student population than those already immersed in the community? Military spouses, with their unique perspective and understanding of the military lifestyle, can bring a depth of empathy and connection to the student experience that is unmatched.
Military spouses encounter distinct obstacles in the employment market, often because their frequent relocations and the demands of supporting their active-duty spouses make securing stable, full-time work in their chosen fields challenging. Nevertheless, as remote work becomes more prevalent, higher education opportunities are emerging for military spouses to leverage their exceptional skill sets to benefit students in tertiary education. Their unparalleled adaptability and flexibility, organizational prowess, problem-solving abilities, and cultural competence make them invaluable assets to institutions of higher learning.
Article Topics
