Only 9 States License More Occupations

How free should you be to buy goods and services from anyone you choose. Are you too stupid to make that decision? YES according to the geniuses at the General Assembly. They now require 110 different occupation types to obtain a license before they can conduct business. Only 9 other states require more administrative red tape. Just last session, if memory serves, locksmiths and welders were added to the list of those who have to be licensed.

Does this improve quality? Of course not. Normally it is just an easy way for those in a trade to restrict the entry of new competition.

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Ranking the States on Occupational Licensing
States (Number of jobs requiring a license)

1. California (177)	26. Virginia (89)
2. Connecticut (155)	27. Louisiana (88)
3. Maine (134)	28. Ohio (88)
4. New Hampshire (130)	29. Georgia (85)
5. Arkansas (128)	30. Indiana (85)
6. Michigan (116)	31. Iowa (85)
7. Rhode Island (116)	32. Utah (84)
8. New Jersey (114)	33. Delaware (83)
9. Wisconsin (111)	34. Montana (79)
10. Tennessee (110)	35. Texas (78)
11. Alaska (109)	36. New York (77)
12. Massachusetts (107)	37. West Virginia (77)
13. North Carolina (107)	38. Wyoming (74)
14. Oregon (107)	39. Arizona (72)
15. Vermont (107)	40. Alabama (70)
16. Florida (104)	41. Colorado (69)
17. New Mexico (104)	42. North Dakota (69)
18. Maryland (98)	43. Mississippi (68)
19. Nebraska (96)	44. Hawaii (64)
20. Minnesota (95)	45. Pennsylvania (62)
21. Nevada (95)	46. Idaho (61)
22. Illinois (93)	47. South Carolina (60)
23. Kentucky (91)	48. Kansas (56)
24. Oklahoma (91)	49. Washington (53)
25. South Dakota (90)	50. Missouri (41)