April 25, 2022
In
In The News
The Costs of Occupational Licensing in Tennessee & Avenues for Reform
From: Beacon Center of Tennessee
Key Takeaways:
- While Tennessee is generally considered a more free-market-oriented state, one area it regulates more heavily is in occupational licensing, essentially a government permission slip to do a job;
- Tennessee has over 263 different occupational licenses, registrations, and certifications, covering 30 percent of the Tennessee workforce;
- The economic cost of obtaining these onerous licensing regulations conservatively costs Tennessee workers over
$279 million just to enter an occupation of their choice; and - Renewing their existing license costs these Tennessee workers nearly $38 million per year.