Icon for Right-to-Work State?

Right-to-Work State?

Description

This variable assesses whether or not a state allows employees to be forced to pay union dues as a condition of employment. States receive their rank based on either a “yes” for the presence of a right-to-work law or a “no” for the lack thereof. This information comes from the National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation, Inc. Right-to-work status is as of January 1, 2023.

Historical Ranks

Historical state ranks for Right-to-Work State? across editions of the Rich States, Poor States.
State 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th
50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th
50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th
50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
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50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
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1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th
50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th
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50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 1st 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th
50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th
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1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
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1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th
50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th 50th
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1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
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1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st

Historical Values

Historical values for Right-to-Work State?. The years listed correspond to the actual data years, not necessarily the publication of Rich States, Poor States.
State 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No No No Yes No No No No No
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

    Rich States, Poor States 16th Edition

    The 16th edition of Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index is the latest in our annual series examining each state’s competitiveness and economic outlook. Used by lawmakers across the…
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