Today, I revisited the 2019 Military Spouses in STEM Survey conducted by SMSS. Then I compared it side-by-side with the 2025 Blue Star Families Military Family Lifestyle Survey. The overlap is striking and continues to show how much work remains.

Military spouses in STEM are some of the most highly educated members of our community. Yet many of the same career barriers we documented in 2019 are still present today.

Here’s what the data shows, then and now, and how SMSS is working to close the gap.

Highly Educated, Yet Still Facing the Same Barriers

SMSS 2019 Findings (STEM spouses):

• 90% have a Bachelor’s degree or higher
• 50% have a Master’s degree or higher
• 15% hold Doctorates

These are exceptional credentials. But the survey also revealed the reality of military life:

• 38.8% left a job or company due to a PCS
• 32.8% accepted jobs with lower skill/experience requirements
• 28.8% accepted lower salaries than previous roles
• Many experienced gaps of 1–5+ years away from their desired field

Fast forward to Blue Star Families 2025:

• The active-duty spouse unemployment rate was 23%.
• Spouse employment continues to be the #1 concern for active-duty families.

Despite many well-intentioned programs and initiatives designed to support military spouse employment over the past several years, the data from 2019 to 2025 shows limited overall progress on these core challenges. This isn’t a failure of effort; it highlights the need for more targeted, community-driven solutions that truly understand the unique realities of military life.

What Spouses Say They Need Most — Then and Now

In the 2019 SMSS survey, when asked what support would help them improve their careers, the top responses were:

• Networking opportunities (the clear #1 request)
• Remote work
• Flexible work hours
• Childcare cost reduction
• Federal employment opportunities
• Job databases

These align almost perfectly with what Blue Star Families continues to hear: military spouses desperately need portable, flexible careers and practical support (especially childcare and remote options) to make two-income families viable.

From Data to Action: SMSS Is Listening

As Executive Director, these survey insights (both SMSS and Blue Star Families’) are shaping our priorities right now:

• Building real community
• Reviewing bylaws, finances, grants, and opening leadership opportunities
• Prioritizing visibility, networking, and advocacy for portable STEM careers

The Path Forward

The data from 2019 and 2025 tells the same story: Military spouses in STEM are ready and qualified to contribute at the highest levels. What’s missing is a system that works with the military lifestyle instead of against it.

We can change this, together.

If you’re a military spouse or veteran spouse in STEM:

• Join SMSS today at smssstem.org
• Consider nominating yourself or someone else for a leadership role. Join first, then nominate yourself or someone else

If you have thoughts, ideas, or connections on how we can drive meaningful change for military spouses in STEM, whether through advocacy, partnerships, resources, or new initiatives, I’d genuinely love to hear from you. Please reach out. SMSS is eager to collaborate with individuals, organizations, and leaders who want to make a real difference.

Originally published on LinkedIn on May 13, 2026. [Read it here]