Assessing growth in occupational licensing of low-income occupations: 1993-2012

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to document the changes in low- and moderate-income occupational licensing over time.

Design/methodology/approach

Using US state level data, the authors document the rise in occupational licensing for low- and moderate-income occupations over the 1993-2012 period.

Findings

States averaged 32 additional low- and moderate-income occupations licensed over this period. Louisiana added the most licenses with 59 new licenses for these occupations, while Oklahoma and Kentucky only added 15 licenses for these low- and moderate-income occupations.

Originality/value

These data have not been documented before and should provide useful for future research into occupational licensing.

Citation

Timmons, E., Meehan, B., Meehan, A. and Hazenstab, J. (2018), "Assessing growth in occupational licensing of low-income occupations: 1993-2012", Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, Vol. 7 No. 2, pp. 178-218. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEPP-D-18-00006