Now is the time for employers, policymakers, communities and others “to do their part to lessen the financial costs of military spouse unemployment,” Eric Eversole and Mark Steffe wrote for Military Spouse. Eversole is president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes. Steffe is president and CEO of First Command Financial Services.

They note that military spouses often stop and start their career paths to move with their military spouse, leading to underemployment, unemployment and missed opportunities to save money.

Among their recommendations are to increase remote and portable jobs, make it easier for military spouses to become vested in employer-sponsored savings plans, and promote financial education and financial planning services for military spouses.

Hiring Our Heroes surveyed military spouses for its recent report “The Hidden Financial Costs of Military Spouse Unemployment.” First Command Financial Services sponsored the project.

Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Colleen Anthony