More Than Half of Military Spouses Cite Employment as Their Top Concern

During National Military Appreciation Month, PMI U.S. underscores the critical role of military spouses

In a new report released today, PMI U.S. highlights the often-overlooked challenge of sustained employment for military spouses. The report underscores the company’s ambition to support U.S. military members, veterans and their families. This commitment is driven by a strong desire among PMI U.S. employees and reflects an ongoing pledge to meet the diverse needs of America’s military families.

"Military spouses are the backbone of their families, providing unwavering support to service members and veterans, often at a significant personal cost. Too many of these home-front heroes face barriers that make their lives more challenging than they should be," said J.B. Simko, chief corporate responsibility officer at PMI U.S. "We listened to the voices of military families and advocacy organizations to understand how employers, policymakers, and other organizations can step up. PMI U.S. donates to our community partners who offer career services like job networking and coaching to extend their reach. We will continue to evolve our support model as the needs of military families change.”

PMI U.S. highlights what military spouses and their families need to thrive in its new report, On the Home Front: Addressing the Needs of U.S. Military Spouses. Overall, research into the experiences of military spouses has been limited, but the data compiled in this report, along with firsthand insights, underscore their vital role.

Well-educated, underemployed

More than half of spouses of active-duty service members who participated in the Blue Star Families’ annual military family lifestyle survey said employment was their biggest challenge in military life.¹ To begin to address this, PMI U.S. gave a $100,000 donation to the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work’s Veteran Spouse Network for research and support services, such as training and education.

"We have an opportunity to focus attention where it’s needed most. Research tells us that U.S. military spouses often end up in jobs that do not fully tap into their talents and capabilities. Often, military spouses settle for positions that demand less and pay less — around 25% less, on average — than they are qualified to earn," said Elisa Borah, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Military and Veteran Family Wellness at the University of Texas at Austin.

Finding solutions, improving lives

The report outlines a roadmap of action for organizations seeking to support military families. Key topics include helping members access military and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare systems and benefits, easing the transition from military to civilian life, and building greater understanding of military and veterans issues among civilians.

In 2024, PMI U.S. renewed its commitment to support the military community nationwide with an investment of more than $3 million. The investment has helped veterans and active military members access free legal support by funding additional attorneys and law students, so they can handle more cases and increase outreach to rural and Tribal veterans.

PMI U.S. has also expanded its partnerships with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Bob Woodruff Foundation and increased donations to nonprofits focused on specialized areas, including housing, care during times of mourning and relief for emergency economic hardships. PMI U.S. will continue to provide services to the military community through our partnerships in 2025.

Download the full report and explore steps to support military families at pmi.com/us/EmpoweringMilitarySpouses.

About PMI

Philip Morris International Inc. is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, and its U.S. affiliates employ more than 2,500 people. PMI U.S. is on a mission to improve public health by providing the 45 million U.S. adults 21+ nicotine consumers — 30 million of whom smoke cigarettes or use traditional tobacco — with innovative products that help them leave conventional cigarettes and other traditional tobacco products behind.

Since 2008, PMI has invested more than $14 billion globally to develop and commercialize FDA-authorized smoke-free products for legal-age nicotine consumers. PMI U.S. operates smoke-free product manufacturing facilities, including Swedish Match North America’s Owensboro, Kentucky, plant that makes ZYN nicotine pouches and a facility in Wilson, North Carolina, that produces HEETS for the IQOS heated tobacco device. Swedish Match North America has a regional office in Richmond, Virginia.

Commitment to corporate social responsibility

PMI U.S. has contributed approximately $25 million to charitable causes since 2022, amplifying the good work of organizations already active within communities through both financial contributions and volunteering. PMI’s philanthropy pillars include supporting military veterans and military spouses, advancing local economic efforts in communities where PMI operates and natural disaster response and prevention. PMI U.S. helped form United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade, a coalition of nearly 100 national and state brand enforcement experts, law enforcement agencies, academics and leading business organizations working to combat illegal trade. USA-IT has trained more than 36,000 law enforcement officials.

U.S. marketing practices support 21+ access only

PMI U.S. is committed to responsible marketing practices focused on limiting access to adults 21 years of age and older. PMI U.S. does not use social media influencers in the U.S. or people under the age of 35 — or who appear to be under the age of 35 — in marketing materials. PMI U.S. also employs independent age-verification systems, such as Double Verify, to direct digital advertising to those over 21, and owned digital platforms are age-gated at the point of access and restricted to current nicotine consumers who are 21+. Swedish Match North America is a Manufacturer Advisory Council member of the We Card Program, a national nonprofit serving retailers of age-restricted products. PMI is also a founding board member and investor in TruAge,® a free retail technology that provides stores with a more accurate method of age verification, including the ability to detect fake IDs, to ensure access is limited to those 21+.

U.S. mission to improve public health through smoke-free products

Because adult nicotine consumer preferences differ, PMI U.S. is working to offer a range of smoke-free options for adults 21+. Since 2008, PMI has invested over $14 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate and commercialize innovative smoke-free products. In 2022, PMI acquired Swedish Match — a leader in oral nicotine delivery — creating a global smoke-free champion led by the ZYN and IQOS brands.

IQOS is authorized by the FDA as a modified risk tobacco product, meaning the FDA has found it appropriate for the promotion of public health. Although IQOS is not risk-free and is addictive, studies show that because the device heats tobacco instead of burning it, it significantly reduces the production of and exposure to harmful chemicals compared to conventional cigarettes for adults who smoke and who switch to IQOS completely.

In 2025, the FDA authorized all 20 Swedish Match ZYN nicotine pouch products currently sold in the U.S., making ZYN the only FDA-authorized nicotine pouch on the market to help adults who use cigarettes or traditional tobacco products completely switch. The FDA has authorized Swedish Match’s General snus as a modified risk tobacco product.

For more information, please visit www.pmi.com/us/ and www.pmiscience.com.

References to “PMI” mean the Philip Morris International family of companies. “PMI U.S.,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to PMI U.S. businesses.

¹ https://www.afa.org/7-facts-you-should-know-about-military-spouses/

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