The commonwealth’s middle-of-the-road rating is buoyed half-star awards for policies that recognize out-of-state occupational licenses, preclude criminal convictions as a basis for denying license applications, and require four-year reviews of existing licensing regulations.

When it comes to the other seven reforms rated – such as eliminating its right-to-work law, banning paid leave time for union-related activities and restrictions on worker classifications and contracts – the commonwealth earned no stars at all.

Pennsylvania’s prevalence of government jobs was lowest in the nation, at 11.19% in July 2024, as was its and 19 other states’ hourly minimum wage rate of $7.25. The commonwealth ranks 35th in average 10-year private sector employment growth, with the fourth-highest percentage of public sector union workers in the country at 53.61%.

The top five states include Arizona, Utah, Georgia, Arkansas and Florida. The bottom five include Connecticut, New York, Oregon, Massachusetts and Alaska.

“Winning states put their trust in workers instead of bureaucrats,” said Alan Jernigan, manager of the ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force. “Whether it’s expanding job opportunities or letting workers keep more of what they earn, these states are proving that liberty is the best workforce development strategy.”