IS MILITARY SERVICE GOOD FOR AN EDUCATED WOMAN?

Abstract

The scope of this research deals with the notion that military service yields higher levels of earnings for individuals who successfully transition into the civilian labor force. Through the Human Capital Theory (HCT) lens, this study assessed the relationship between military connection and civilian labor force economic outcomes for women. The results of this study inform policy makers, military recruiters, civilian employers, and college administrators, with insights into how to support military connected women’s transition into the civilian workforce. This study hypothesized that military service along with the attainment of at least a bachelor’s degree would serve as a bridge to higher pay for women after transitioning into the civilian labor force. Drawing on data from the 2017 National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG), the focus of this quantitative study was to investigate how a college education affects civilian earnings. This study compared labor market outcomes between military connected women and non- military connected individuals who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree to determine if military service yields an earnings premium. This analysis determined that in general military connected women do not experience an earnings premium over military connected men and non- military connected individuals when combining military service and education after transitioning into the civilian labor force. Furthermore, this study revealed military does not act as a bridge to higher civilian labor force earnings for women. This suggests that a bridging environment from military service does not exist for women. Overall this study found that an individual’s military connection does not hinder their ability to successfully transition into the civilian labor force. However, it does suggest that military service does not act as a mechanism to move military connected job candidates to the front of the line.