Employment Help for Military Spouses on the Horizon
Despite their overall high level of education, occupation diversification and extreme resilience, military spouses continually struggle with underemployment and unemployment.
The good news is that in April 2016job-seeking military spouses gainedaccess to a new resource.The Military Employment Transition Spouse Program (METSpouse) is a 12 month pilot project undertaken by Military Family Services (MFS), Canada Company andseven Military Family Resource Centres (MFRCs) across Canada.
The seven participating MFRCs that will kick off the METSpouse pilot and will handle the registration process are located in Halifax, NS; Montreal, QC; Valcartier, QC; National Capital Region, ON; Toronto, ON; Winnipeg and MB Shilo, MB.
“Theemployment challengesmilitary spouses face comes as a direct result of the unique stressors inherent within the military family life. Military families regularly move and are separated, impacting their employment options,” said Todd Stride, Senior Manager Community Development, Military Family Services.
The 2013 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Ombudsman Report recommended that MFS establish a national employer network to complement local and regional employment services available to military families through Military Family Resource Centres (MFRCs).
“Our steering committee felt we could leverage the success of an already existing employment program run for CAF members, reservists and veterans. With some adjustments, we can now offer the same benefits to military spouses,” said Stride.
Canada Company’s existing Military Transition Employment Program (MET) was developed to assist CAF members, reservists and veterans who are seeking to find jobs in the civilian workforce.
By registering with MET, releasing members and veterans gain access to online job search and career planning tools and the company profiles of Military Friendly Employer Partners. The company profiles provide a link to the employer’s hiring website, where participants can browseavailable positions and apply. Participantsalso receive a list of immediatelyavailable positions with partnering employers on a biweekly basis.
The METSpouse program will essentially exist under the same model as the current MET program. Additional employer awareness materials will be added to reflect the distinctive employment realities faced by military spouses including resumes that reflect frequent career changes or gaps in employment due to relocation. Different from the MET program, METSpouse employer partners are asked to commit to exploring employment mobility options when a spouse is relocated.
Created in 2006,Canada Company is a federally registered charity which brings community leaders from across Canada together to support Canadian soldiers in the work that they do at home and abroad. The organization is apolitical and is an advocate for Canadians who serve, or wish to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces, regular and reserveand their families, ensuring they receive the widest possible support, recognition and care.
To register or learn more about the METSpouse and MET programs, please visit