The Employment Status of Army Spouses

The Army Family Research Program (AFRP) is a 5-year integrated research program that supports the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA) White Paper 1983: The Army Family and The Army Family Action Plans (1984-1990) by developing databases, models, program evaluation technologies, and policy options that assist the Army to retain quality soldiers, improve soldier and unit readiness, and increase family adaptation to Army life. This report investigates the employment status of Army spouses, especially wives, who are in the civilian labor force or seeking to enter the labor force. It (1) describes labor force participation, employment, (2) describes labor force participation, employment, and underemployment (i.e., not using training, experience, and skills on the job) of Army spouses; and (3) describes factors that lead to Army spouse satisfaction with military life. Unique factors related to military spouse work outcomes were identified through a review and analysis of the literature on the economic model of labor supply for married women and and previous empirical research based on civilian women.