Right to Work Benefits Fact Sheet – Spring 2026
Spring 2026 Right to Work Benefits Fact Sheet available online.
The National Institute for Labor Relations Research (NILRR) has released its new Spring 2026 Right to Work Benefits Fact Sheet, featuring the latest side-by-side economic comparisons between Right to Work states and Forced Unionism states.
The data shows Right to Work states continuing to deliver stronger results across multiple key indicators (2015–2025):
- Employment growth: +15.0% in Right to Work states vs. +5.8% in Forced Unionism states
- Manufacturing payroll employment: +7.7% vs. –2.9%
- Total private-sector payroll employment: +17.2% vs. +8.7%
- Real growth in disposable personal income: +30.2% vs. +20.7%
- Growth in population ages 25–64 with at least a bachelor’s degree (2014–2024): +37.7% vs. +21.9%
Right to Work states also report:
- Higher cost-of-living-adjusted per capita disposable income ($65,746 vs. $62,251)
- Significantly lower unfunded public pension liabilities per capita
- Fewer welfare (TANF) recipients per 1,000 residents
- More new privately-owned single-unit housing authorizations per 1,000 residents
Download the full two-page fact sheet PDF to view all charts.