Analyzing the Extent and Influence of Occupational Licensing on the Labor Market

Morris M. Kleiner and Alan Krueger

No 14979, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: This study examines the extent and influence of occupational licensing in the U.S. using a specially designed national labor force survey. Specifically, we provide new ways of measuring occupational licensing and consider what types of regulatory requirements and what level of government oversight contribute to wage gains and variability. Estimates from the survey indicated that 35 percent of employees were either licensed or certified by the government, and that 29 percent were fully licensed. Another 3 percent stated that all who worked in their job would eventually be required to be certified or licensed, bringing the total that are or eventually must be licensed or certified by government to 38 percent. We find that licensing is associated with about 14 percent higher wages, but the effect of governmental certification on pay is much smaller. Licensing by multiple political jurisdictions is associated with the highest wage gains relative to only local licensing. Specific requirements by the government for a worker to enter an occupation, such as education level and long internships, are positively associated with wages. We find little association between licensing and the variance of wages, in contrast to unions. Overall, our results show that occupational licensing is an important labor market phenomenon that can be measured in labor force surveys.

JEL-codes: J08 J44 J58 J80 K23 K31 L38 L5 L51 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-bec and nep-lab
Note: LS
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

Published as Morris M. Kleiner & Alan B. Krueger, 2013. "Analyzing the Extent and Influence of Occupational Licensing on the Labor Market," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 31(S1), pages S173 - S202.

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Related works:
Working Paper: Analyzing the Extent and Influence of Occupational Licensing on the Labor Market (2011)
Working Paper: Analyzing the Extent and Influence of Occupational Licensing on the Labor Market (2009)
Working Paper: Analyzing the Extent and Influence of Occupational Licensing on the Labor Market (2009)
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