Addressing Military Spouse Career Barriers 2026

Several brand-new developments could affect the employment of military service members and their families and employers' compliance commitments in 2026. Changes range from proposals to increase rewards for working with military partners to improved work securities for service members while on responsibility. Military spouse job opportunity and support remain a focus for pending legislation.

On November 20, 2025, Senators Costs Cassidy (R-LA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Representatives Steven Horsford (D-NV) and Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) introduced an upgraded version of the Improve and Enhance the Work Chance Tax Credit Act (S. 3265/H. R. 6231) that would extend the Work Chance Tax Credit (WOTC) to military spouses. The WOTC provides federal tax credits to employers that work with certain "American job applicants who have regularly faced barriers to employment." That proposed legislation resembles the Armed force Spouse Hiring Act (H.R. 2033/S.1027), introduced earlier in 2025.

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Frequent Relocations Frequent relocations continue to strain military households and can make it more challenging for employers to hire and maintain military partners. Expanding the WOTC might create new incentives for companies to hire military spouses and tap into this underutilized talent swimming pool.

Analyzing Top Benefit Paths for Military Families

The U.S. Congress has actually not yet used up the STAY Act this year, but if it is ultimately enacted, it might lead to minimized PCS moves that could affect recruiting, retention, and remote-work policies for military spouses. Military Re-Employment Protections Federal law currently offers civilian work leave protections for veterans and service members who are involuntarily or willingly released for military service.

The Dole Act reinforced anti-retaliation securities and enabled plaintiffs declaring USERRA offenses to seek minimum liquidated damages of $50,000 and lawyers' fees. Agencies and courts may continue to translate and apply the Dole Act's USERRA-related provisions.

New Employer Resources In January 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (DOL/VETS) introduced a program for employers to look for guidance for ensuring compliance. The Assistance and Support for Leaders in USERRA Training and Employment (SALUTE) program is a chance for companies to demand technical guidance on USERRA-related concerns or specific problems in their labor force before the onset of a DOL/VETS problem or lawsuit.

Concern actions consist of reviewing USERRA compliance programs and training, upgrading military leave and reemployment policies, confirming health-benefit extension procedures, and aligning hiring and tax-credit screening processes to rapidly capture brand-new rewards for military spouses. Ogletree Deakins' brand-new Military Workforce Practice Group unites a group of attorneys, a lot of whom are veterans or presently serving in the Reserves or National Guard, who frequently advise on USERRA compliance, policy development, multistate implementation, and investigations and litigation.

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Advanced Military Retirement and Pension Optimization

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For ten years, Employing Our Heroes has actually championed military spouse work, creating pathways to opportunity and driving systemic change. As we celebrate this milestone, the 10th Annual Armed Force Partner Employment Summit will honor the tradition of development while charting a strong course for the future. This year's summit concentrates on Management & Legacy as we acknowledge the partners, employers, and supporters who have actually changed the employment landscape and prepared the next generation to grow in a developing labor force.

Together, we will construct on a years of service and success to develop a future where military spouses lead with strength, vision, and purpose.

Military partners deal with one of the most consistent work gaps in the American workforce., military spouse joblessness has hovered around 20% or greater in current years.