Wisconsin, like many states, doesn’t have enough workers.
But help could be on the way from the Legislature. Assembly Bill 332 is under consideration in the state Senate.
Today, if I take my West Virginia driver’s license and drive in Wisconsin, local authorities will recognize the credential. I will be permitted to drive. Local authorities trust that my West Virginia credential and my years of driving experience are valid.
But when it comes to occupational licenses — for cutting hair, giving a massage, taking X-rays and more — no similar process in place. Occupational licenses do not travel and function across state lines.
Continue reading at The Wisconsin State Journal.
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
Wisconsin, like many states, doesn’t have enough workers.
But help could be on the way from the Legislature. Assembly Bill 332 is under consideration in the state Senate.
Today, if I take my West Virginia driver’s license and drive in Wisconsin, local authorities will recognize the credential. I will be permitted to drive. Local authorities trust that my West Virginia credential and my years of driving experience are valid.
But when it comes to occupational licenses — for cutting hair, giving a massage, taking X-rays and more — no similar process in place. Occupational licenses do not travel and function across state lines.
Continue reading at The Wisconsin State Journal.
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.
Share:
Related Posts
Texas Can Reduce More Barriers to Occupational Licenses
State Licensing Boards Should Stop Giving Military Families the Run-Around
Why a One-Time Wealth Tax Would Be a Permanent Problem for California