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Occupational Licensing Blocks Americans' Right to Earn an Honest Living

Every American deserves the opportunity to earn an honest living. Yet occupational licenses, routinely stand in the way of honest enterprise. Without these licenses, workers can face stiff fines or even risk jail time.

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Occupational Licensing Facts

1 in 4 American workers need a license to work.

On average, it takes nearly a year of education and experience, 1 exam and $260 in fees to work in 102 lower-income occupations.

Nationally, licensing costs the economy nearly 2 million jobs and $184 billion in lost economic value each year

State Rankings for 102 Lower-Income Occupations

Number of Occupations Licensed and Average Licensing Burden

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Based on data released in November 2022

Occupational Licensing Updates

Why does Occupational Licensing exist?

Occupational Licensing Cases

License to Work

The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.

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