The U.S. workforce is facing a new and unexpected challenge: a surge in National Guard deployments. According to new data, military-related absences from civilian jobs have hit a 19-year high, with nearly 90,000 reported cases between January and August 2025—double the total from last year.
While the numbers are small relative to the total workforce, the strain is disproportionately felt in sectors that rely on reservists, from logistics to healthcare. For employers already grappling with a weak labor market, the rising deployment rates add yet another layer of stress.
Table of Contents
Why Deployments Are Rising
- Global Tensions
Increased U.S. commitments overseas have required more Guard units to mobilize. - Disaster Response at Home
Hurricanes, wildfires, and climate-related disasters have pulled Guard units into extended domestic operations. - Policy Changes
Expanded training and readiness cycles mean more time away from civilian jobs, even without full deployments.
Impact on the Labor Market
- Small Businesses: Employers with fewer staff feel the absence of reservists most acutely.
- Healthcare: Many Guard members are nurses, medics, and technicians—leaving hospitals stretched thin.
- Logistics & Transportation: Trucking and warehousing firms report staffing gaps when drivers and supervisors deploy.
- Public Safety: Local police and firefighting units often lose trained staff to Guard duty, creating community-level disruptions.
Struggling with Staffing Gaps?
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For reservists themselves, deployments bring unique complications:
- Interrupted Careers: Promotions and career development stall during deployments.
- Financial Stress: Some reservists earn less during Guard duty than in civilian jobs.
- Family Impact: Frequent or extended deployments strain families juggling childcare and household finances.
Employer Adaptations
Some companies are stepping up to support Guard members:
- Wage Supplements: Ensuring deployed workers don’t lose pay.
- Flexible Scheduling: Allowing smoother transitions when reservists return.
- Cross-Training: Preparing colleagues to cover for absent Guard members.
But for many smaller businesses, the burden is simply too heavy.
FAQs
Q1: Why are National Guard deployments increasing now?
Because of rising global tensions, expanded training cycles, and more domestic disaster responses.
Q2: Which sectors are most affected?
Healthcare, logistics, public safety, and small businesses.
Q3: How does this affect reservists personally?
They face stalled careers, financial strain, and family challenges.
Q4: What are employers doing to cope?
Some offer wage supplements and cross-training, but many smaller firms struggle to fill gaps.
Healthcare Staffing Strain in Texas
In Texas, hospitals have reported losing dozens of nurses and technicians to National Guard deployments in 2025.
- Houston Medical Center said it had 18 nurses on Guard duty at once.
- To fill the gaps, hospitals relied on expensive travel nurses, driving up costs.
- Patient wait times for routine care rose, creating frustration among staff and patients alike.
This illustrates how Guard absences ripple far beyond the military, directly affecting community services and everyday Americans.
