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By New Hampshire Watchdog
WASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s harder to become a barber in New Hampshire than an emergency medical technician. And you’d better not try to shampoo someone’s hair without a license. Those are just two of the startling conclusions from the Institute for Justice’s survey of occupational licensing in New Hampshire.
The nonprofit public interest law firm examined fees, education requirements, and licensing exams for 102 low and medium income jobs across the nation in its new report License to Work. The Institute concluded that New Hampshire places fewer burdens than most states, but there are a few areas where getting a job in the Granite State is harder than it ought to be.
Lisa Knepper is director of strategic research at the Institute for Justice, and co-author of License to Work. She said her firm concentrated on jobs towards the bottom of the economic ladder rather than highly regulated occupations like doctors and lawyers because they were most interested in finding out how state regulations impacts those on the lower rungs. Knepper said occupational licensing is a substantial barrier for those trying to find work.
“That’s a lot of time and effort spent earning a license instead of earning a living,” Knepper adds.
Read more at New Hampshire Watchdog.
