Military Spouse Employment - May Conversation
The problem that just won't go away...
Military spouse employment has been a problem since the 1970s. We move around every two to three years, have to take part-time opportunities, have gaps in our resumes, choose to be underemployed to stay in the workforce and face overt and subtle forms of employment discrimination. Despite this being a well-documented problem, military spouse unemployment (those who are looking for, but not finding work) has hovered around 20% for the better part of the last decade.
In this session of Military Dinner Table Conversations, we will hear from Sue Hoppin of the National Military Spouse Network, an organization that has been bringing the concerns of military spouses to the attention of military and congressional leaders since 2010.
We will deep-dive the following topics:
Working part-time: Is this a choice we make or a situation we work with?
Working overseas: What could be made easier?
Federal employment: Are hiring preferences actually working for military spouse?
Policy updates: How are recent changes to policy working for those involved (military spouses, licensing bodies, employers, etc.)?
Workforce participation: Do spouses actually choose to be out of the workforce (not working, not looking) or is employment too hard to maintain that they take a step back?
What other areas of military spouse employment do you want to share? Let me know this May!!!
Register — Military Spouse Employment
Date: Thu, May 2, 2024
Session 1: 12 Noon EST
Session 2: 8 pm EST
Let’s talk about the things we don’t talk about.
Host: Jennifer Barnhill
Guest: Sue Hoppin - National Military Spouse Network (NMSN)
Register and share with others in the community!
All about Sue
Sue Hoppin is a nationally recognized expert on military spouse and family issues working to bridge the cultural gap between government, private and public groups and military communities. She is an advocate, published author and consultant with more than 20 years of experience and expertise in military community programs. She has a proven record of developing programs focusing on military issues, serving as spokesperson for various organizations and committees, and reaching out to train top-tier military-affiliated groups, veteran/military services organizations, and key leadership within major military commands.
In 2012, Sue was appointed by President Obama to the Board of Visitors of the United States Air Force Academy; she completed her tenure in 2018 as the board's Vice Chairman. In 2010, Sue founded the National Military Spouse Network, a professional development and networking membership organization supporting the professional career and entrepreneurial goals of military spouses.
Sue holds a bachelor's degree in international studies from the University of Denver, a master's degree in international relations from the University of Oklahoma and a certificate in nonprofit management from Georgetown University.