One in five jobs in the US requires government permission to work

In the United States, one in five jobs requires government permission through occupational licensing. Despite reform efforts, this situation persists, with significant variations in licensing requirements across states. The Archbridge Institute's 2026 report identifies the most burdensome states and highlights the lack of evidence supporting the necessity of such regulations for public health. Critics argue that these licensing requirements increase costs for consumers and limit competition, while some states have begun recognizing licenses from other states to ease barriers for workers.