A commissioned project to explore the transition that female Service leavers make from the Armed Forces to civilian employment.

Impact

This research was the first UK study to examine employment outcomes specifically for female Service leavers. It examined the transition that female Service leavers make from the Armed Forces to civilian life and explored the reasons why they decide to leave, the types of employment they enter, the challenges they face and the support they receive.

The research gave us previously unknown insights into the employment outcomes of female Service leavers and found that they can face a ‘double whammy’ when looking for employment after leaving the Armed Forces: they face the same challenges experienced by all Service leavers, as well as those faced by women in British society more generally. However, once in employment, employers speak very highly of female Service leavers, and Service leavers in general, valuing skills such as strong organization, forward planning and self-motivation.

The research provided valuable information to inform our Employment Programme moving forward as well as being valuable for other stakeholders in the employment sector.