Employment outcomes among transitioned Australian Defence Force members: An exploration of sex differences

Gaining employment is one of the many challenges Veterans face when transitioning out of the military. Females and males have different experiences while serving, as well as when transitioning to civilian life, that can affect employment after transition. This study explores the factors affecting employment for females and males, finding that some factors differ by sex. Children, housing, age, amount of time since transition, military service type, and education were all shown to affect employment differently for females and males. Similarities between females and males were found for factors such as mental health, trauma, reasons for leaving, and transitioning to the reserves. Results show that different factors affect employment for females and males. Further research is needed to develop more awareness of the female transition experience to ensure services support the unique needs of female Veterans. Introduction: Transitioning to civilian life is a challenging period of adjustment for military personnel. Gaining civilian employment after leaving the military has several benefits for mental and physical health, yet it is one of many challenges Veterans face. Females are largely under-represented in Veteran unemployment research despite having unique experiences during service that may affect employment after transition. Methods: This secondary data analysis of a sub-sample of males and females who recently transitioned out of the Australian Defence Force explores sex differences in terms of transition, service, and individual factors associated with unemployment. Results: Findings showed female unemployment was greater among those with children, who transitioned at a younger age, and who lived in stable housing, which may be explained by primary caregiving responsibilities. Age at time of transition, having children, and living in stable housing differentially affected unemployment among females and males, whereas number of years served, level of psychological distress, number of recent life events, transition status, and discharge reason were shown to affect employment outcomes for females and males alike. Factors found to be unequally associated with employment outcomes for males were time since transition, service type, and level of education. Discussion: Findings indicate that employment outcomes are associated with varied factors for females and males. Further research is needed to develop greater awareness of female transition experiences to ensure that services support the unique needs of females leaving the military. Introduction : La transition vers la vie civile est une periode d'adaptation difficile pour le personnel militaire. Si l'obtention d'un emploi civil apres avoir quitte les Forces comporte plusieurs avantages pour la sante mentale et physique, c'est egalement l'un des defis que doivent relever les veteran(e)s. Les femmes sont largement sous-representees dans la recherche sur le chomage des veteran(e)s, malgre le caractere propre de leurs experiences pendant le service, qui pourrait avoir une incidence sur leur emploi apres la transition. Methodologie : Cette analyse de donnees secondaires porte sur un sous-echantillon d'hommes et de femmes ayant recemment quitte les Forces de defense australiennes. Elle s'interesse aux differences entre les sexes quant a la transition, au service et aux facteurs individuels associes au chomage. Resultats : Les resultats montrent que le chomage des femmes est plus eleve chez celles qui ont des enfants, qui font la transition plus jeunes et qui vivent dans un logement stable, et peuvent s'expliquer par des responsabilites de principales fournisseuses de soins. L'age au moment de la transition, le fait d'avoir des enfants et le fait de vivre dans un logement stable influencent differemment les resultats en matiere d'emploi des femmes et des hommes, tandis que le nombre d'annees de service, le degre de detresse psychologique, le nombre d'evenements de la vie vecus recemment, le degre d'avancement dans la transition et la raison du conge influencent semblablement les resultats des deux groupes. Les facteurs inegalement associes aux resultats en matiere d'emploi des hommes sont le temps ecoule depuis la transition, le type de service et le niveau de scolarite. Discussion : Les resultats indiquent que les resultats en matiere d'emploi sont associes a des facteurs qui different selon le sexe. D'autres recherches s'imposent pour mieux faire connaitre les experiences de transition des femmes et s'assurer que les services offerts repondent aux besoins particuliers des femmes qui quittent les Forces.