The Department of Commerce has a variety of resources to support members of the military community—including transitioning service members, military spouses, veterans, and military/veteran service organizations—with the goal of facilitating economic empowerment for those who serve the nation.

LEARN HOW TO START AND GROW A BUSINESS
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Entrepreneurship Resources for the Military Community initiative encourages and empowers more military veterans and spouses to participate in the innovation ecosystem by helping them find resources to plan for, protect, and grow their small businesses.

VetsGoGlobal is a U.S. Commercial Service initiative that educates U.S. veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and military spouse-owned businesses on the export process and international business opportunities. For export solutions and assistance, check out their Global Diversity Export Initiative.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

We value the deep expertise and skills that military veterans and spouses bring and actively work to recruit both. Learn more about our veteran hiring program and frequently asked questions about veteran preference. The Department is also a proud Military Spouse Employment Partnership partner employer.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE RESEARCH AND DATA ON MILITARY-ECONOMIC ISSUES AND OUTCOMES

Supporting the unique needs of the military community requires us to understand and track their access to economic tools and outcomes. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Digital Nation Data Explorer offers a window into understanding veterans' computer and internet use, and their Digital Equity Resource for Veterans guide shares effective inclusion practices that promote equitable digital outcomes.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s Veteran Employment Outcomes Explorer is a data visualization tool sharing statistics on labor market outcomes for recently discharged Army veterans. It could be expanded to other services in the future. In addition, a plethora of U.S. Census Bureau data, publications, and news surrounding veteran issues can be explored.

Did you know?
In 2021, veteran-owned businesses had an estimated $922.2 billion in receipts,3.3 million employees, and $179.9 billion in annual payroll.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau and National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, 2022 Annual Business Survey