Tameka Stigers had a master’s degree in public health from Saint Louis University, specialized training in African hair braiding and a loyal client base. What she did not have was a cosmetology license — which Missouri once required before she could legally operate.
But here’s the catch: That license would require 1,500 hours of training — more time than it takes to become an emergency medical technician — and $15,000 in costs to learn how to apply nail polish, mix hair dye and perm hair, skills unrelated to her work.
That is the challenge occupational licensing presents across America today. More than 1 in 5 American workers hold an occupational license for their job. Licensing can play an important role in protecting public health and safety, especially in high-risk fields. But when requirements no longer reflect the skills needed for a job, they can unintentionally keep qualified people from working, limit choices for families and make it harder for local economies to grow.
At a time of persistent labor shortages in key sectors such as child care and health care, we need more workers willing to fill those roles. Removing licensing barriers clears the path — boosting family incomes and strengthening local economies. This is especially true for women, who disproportionately work in these licensed fields.
Continue reading at The Kansas City Star.
Edward Timmons, PhD, is Vice President of Policy at the Archbridge Institute. He leads the institute's economic policy strategy, identifying focus areas and disseminating work to key stakeholders and policymakers. His own research focuses on labor economics and regulatory policy; he is regularly asked to provide expert testimony to U.S. states on occupational licensing reform and the practice authority of nurse practitioners. Dr. Timmons received his Ph.D. in economics from Lehigh University and his B.A. in economics and actuarial science from Lebanon Valley College. He publishes a weekly newsletter on Substack with the latest research and policy insights surrounding occupational licensing.
Economics of Flourishing
Tameka Stigers had a master’s degree in public health from Saint Louis University, specialized training in African hair braiding and a loyal client base. What she did not have was a cosmetology license — which Missouri once required before she could legally operate.
But here’s the catch: That license would require 1,500 hours of training — more time than it takes to become an emergency medical technician — and $15,000 in costs to learn how to apply nail polish, mix hair dye and perm hair, skills unrelated to her work.
That is the challenge occupational licensing presents across America today. More than 1 in 5 American workers hold an occupational license for their job. Licensing can play an important role in protecting public health and safety, especially in high-risk fields. But when requirements no longer reflect the skills needed for a job, they can unintentionally keep qualified people from working, limit choices for families and make it harder for local economies to grow.
At a time of persistent labor shortages in key sectors such as child care and health care, we need more workers willing to fill those roles. Removing licensing barriers clears the path — boosting family incomes and strengthening local economies. This is especially true for women, who disproportionately work in these licensed fields.
Continue reading at The Kansas City Star.
Edward Timmons
Edward Timmons, PhD, is Vice President of Policy at the Archbridge Institute. He leads the institute's economic policy strategy, identifying focus areas and disseminating work to key stakeholders and policymakers. His own research focuses on labor economics and regulatory policy; he is regularly asked to provide expert testimony to U.S. states on occupational licensing reform and the practice authority of nurse practitioners. Dr. Timmons received his Ph.D. in economics from Lehigh University and his B.A. in economics and actuarial science from Lebanon Valley College. He publishes a weekly newsletter on Substack with the latest research and policy insights surrounding occupational licensing.
Wendy Doyle
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