Many veterans continue to face challenges with underemployment and dissatisfaction with their pay even years after leaving the military, according to a recent survey by Penn State’s Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness.
The study, which surveyed about 3,000 post-9/11 veterans, drew on data from The Veterans Metrics Initiative (TVMI) and the Veterans Engaging in Transition Studies (VETS). These projects tracked veterans during their first six and a half years transitioning from military to civilian life.
Significant risk
The authors note that post-9/11 veterans, particularly those who served in the global War on Terror, are at a significant risk of underemployment. This problem arises in part because many employers struggle to understand how military skills, especially leadership, translate to civilian jobs. Additionally, veterans often feel pressured to take a job quickly after leaving the military, which can lead them to accept positions that don’t fully match their skills.
Underemployment occurs when people have jobs that don’t align with their education, experience, or abilities. It can lead to various issues, including depression, anxiety, anger, lower job commitment, and poorer health.
The study found that one-third of post-9/11 veterans were underemployed but not unhappy with their pay, while 10% were both underemployed and dissatisfied with their compensation. Just over half of the veterans reported no issues with underemployment or pay dissatisfaction.
Lower earning
Veterans who were both underemployed and dissatisfied with their pay three years after leaving the military earned between $11,000 and $24,000 less than their peers who didn’t face these issues.
The research also looked at how underemployment and pay dissatisfaction affected veterans’ decisions to leave their jobs. Veterans who were underemployed were nearly 90% more likely to leave their jobs compared to those who weren’t, and those who were both underemployed and unhappy with their pay were four times more likely to quit.
Between their third and fourth years out of the military, 12% of veterans changed jobs. Those who were underemployed and left their jobs saw their salaries increase by more than $10,000.
“These findings show that many veterans take proactive steps to improve their employment situations,” the authors conclude. “Veterans who are dissatisfied with their jobs or pay often seek better opportunities to enhance their transition to civilian life.”
