States that Work and the American Dream

ALEC just released its newest edition of States that Work: A Labor Policy Roadmap Across America which takes a deep dive into the labor policy landscape of each state. All 50 states are evaluated on 10 model policies promoting worker freedom and flexibility. This year saw major victories across the states in labor policy reform while some held firm to their rankings, for better or worse.

The top five states in this year’s publication are Arizona (#1), Mississippi (#2), Georgia (#3), Arkansas (#4), and West Virginia (#5). Arizona, Georgia, and Arkansas maintained their rankings from last year by passing many key reforms in occupational licensing and right-to-work laws. It is important to note that all of the top five states are right-to-work states, meaning employees in these states have the right to choose whether they want to join, refrain from joining, or pay a union. These states recognize that when workers have the freedom to choose what option is best for them, not only do they prosper, but the state is better for it. Employment in right-to-work states grew by 16.4% since 2014, while states without those reforms saw half as much growth.

While Arizona, Georgia, and Arkansas maintained their rankings, Mississippi, North Dakota, and West Virginia jumped due to major policy developments. Mississippi rose in large part due to passing the ALEC model Taxpayer Dollars Protect Workers Act, becoming the 4^th state to enact this reform. West Virginia and North Dakota passed policies for universal recognition of occupational licenses, increasing competitiveness and opening the door for worker freedom across these states.

Unfortunately, this year we also saw some states remain stagnant at the bottom of the rankings. The five lowest-ranked states are Connecticut (#46), New York (#47), Oregon (#48), Massachusetts (#49), and Alaska (#50). Some of these states enacted ALEC reforms but missed key details that ultimately prevented them from earning a full star. Massachusetts passed none of the reforms outlined in the publication and only avoided 50th place due to its lower reliance on government-sector jobs.

Additionally, Utah (#10) took a steep drop of eight places from last year’s ranking, due largely to its repeal of a full public-sector collective bargaining ban. The Beehive State, however, remains competitive and maintains a strong focus on putting workers first through its universal recognition of occupational licenses and its process for ex-offenders to pursue licensure. Despite the repeal, Utah still ranks in the top 10 for most considered factors, leaving room for a comeback next year

This year’s publication proves one thing: economic freedom is the cornerstone of prosperity. State’s that embrace this truth set the pace for the rest of the nation. When they enhance competitiveness, protect worker freedom, and limit government regulation, they don’t just climb the rankings – they lay the foundation for long-term growth and opportunity to pursue the American Dream. As more states adopt commonsense policies, they encourage the rest of the nation to take notes and follow their example. This publication is more than a snapshot of labor policy across America; it is a blueprint for how states can thrive.