Episode 22 of the Head Locke podcast – a discussion on barriers to work with special guest, summer intern Carter Woolly.
Article I, Section 1 of the N.C. Constitution declares that citizens are entitled to “the enjoyment of the fruits of their own labor.” But government and special-interest groups impede entry into certain professions by imposing restrictions on who can work in them. These restrictions are carried out through a process called occupational licensing. Licensing boards mandate that workers fulfill educational requirements and pay fees for the privilege of working in the occupations that they oversee. This system, however, harms low-income and entry-level workers disproportionately.
Professions restricted by occupational licensing include hair dressers, librarians, concession stand operators, barbers, cemetery salesmen, taxidermists, and more. Listen here to Terry and Carter discuss the problems with the occupational licensing system in North Carolina and what can be done to minimize barriers to work.
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