The 2025 Spring Right to Work Benefits Fact Sheet

Download the 2025 Spring Right to Work Benefits Fact Sheet

The ” Spring 2025 Right to Work Benefits Fact Sheet” by the National Institute for Labor Relations Research (NILRR) compares economic indicators between Right to Work states and Forced Unionism states, highlighting purported benefits of Right to Work laws.

Key Findings:

1. Employment Growth (2014-2024):
   • Right to Work states show higher percentage growth in the number of people employed compared to Forced Unionism states (data from BLS Household Survey).
   • Manufacturing private-sector payroll employment growth is stronger in Right to Work states (BLS Establishment Survey).
2. Private-Sector Employment (2013-2023):
   • Right to Work states exhibit greater percentage growth in total private-sector, non-farm employment (BEA data).
3. Education and Demographics (2013-2023):
   • Right to Work states have higher growth in the population aged 25-64 with at least a Bachelor’s degree (BOC data).
   • Growth in the number of residents aged 35-54 is stronger in Right to Work states (BOC data).
4. Taxation and Income (2022-2024):
   • Forced Unionism states have a higher share of income consumed by state-local taxes in 2022 (Tax Foundation, BEA).
   • Cost of living-adjusted per capita disposable income in 2024 is higher in Right to Work states, ranging around $58,000-$63,000 (MERIC, BEA).
5. Household Consumption (2013-2023):
   • RTW states show higher percentage growth in real household consumption (BEA data).
6. Public Pension Liabilities (2022):
   • Unfunded liabilities per capita for public pension plans are significantly lower in Right to Work states ($15,099) compared to Forced Unionism states ($27,226) (American Legislative Exchange Council).
7. Welfare and Housing (2024):
   • Right to Work states have fewer TANF (welfare) recipients per 1,000 residents (U.S. Admin. for Children and Families, BOC).
   • New privately-owned single-unit housing authorizations per 1,000 residents are higher in Right to Work states (BOC, preliminary 2024 data).

State Transitions and Notes:

• Right to Work Adoptions: Michigan (2013), Wisconsin (2015), West Virginia (2016), and Kentucky (2017) adopted Right to Work laws but are excluded from multi-year analyses due to their mid-period transitions. They are included in analyses post-adoption.
• Michigan’s Repeal: Michigan repealed its Right to Work law in March 2023, effective February 2024.
• Missouri: Missouri’s 2017 Right to Work law never took effect and is not counted as RTW.

Data Sources:

• Data is sourced from reputable institutions like the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Bureau of the Census (BOC), Tax Foundation, Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC), American Legislative Exchange Council, and U.S. Administration for Children and Families.

Contact:

• For detailed methodology, contact Stan Greer at stg@nrtw.org.
• NILRR is based in Springfield, VA (Phone: 703-321-9606, Website: NILRR.org).