SBA Celebrates Military Spouse Employment Partnership

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is proud to partner with Military Spouse Employment Partnership's (MSEP) and celebrate their fifth anniversary this month. The MSEP is part of the Department of Defense's broader Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) initiative, seeking to strengthen the education and career opportunities of military spouses.

The SECO initiative provides expert education and career guidance to military spouses worldwide. SECO offers comprehensive information, tools and resources to support career exploration, education, training, licensing, employment readiness and career connections.

Since 2011, MSEP has grown to more than 355 federal and corporate partners, creating economic opportunities for over 98,000 military spouses. The MSEP program, a targeted recruitment and employment solution, creates employment connections that provide companies with direct access to military spouses seeking career opportunities to employers who are actively recruiting.

"The SBA offers many resources for military spouses considering self-employment through small business ownership," said Barbara Carson, Associate Administrator, SBA's Office of Veterans Business Development. Carson, an Air Force Reserve officer and a military spouse of an active duty service member, previously operated a small business while stationed abroad. "I know first-hand the employment barriers that military spouses face," said Carson. "The SBA is dedicated to working with our partners to help military spouses find meaningful, sustainable employment through small business ownership."

Despite high education and career qualifications, military spouses face a 26 percent unemployment rate and a 25 percent wage gap compared to civilian counterparts. An estimated 77 percent of military spouses seek employment, yet frequent military relocations are a barrier to establishing and maintaining a rewarding career.

Military spouses can learn more about small business opportunities at https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/ovbd

Contact: Carol Chastang  (202) 205-6987
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news
Release Number: 16-78

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SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

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