States with abortion bans are driving away workers: particularly workers who are young, highly … More
The reproductive rights landscape has shifted rapidly since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned women’s constitutional right to abortion in the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, researchers are documenting a “brain drain” in states with abortion bans. Young and highly educated workers are leading this trend, making it difficult for employers to recruit and retain top talent in abortion-restrictive states.
There are currently 12 states with total abortion bans, and an additional seven states with highly restrictive bans ranging from six to 18 weeks of gestation, with limited exceptions, according the Guttmacher Institute’s state legislation tracker. An additional 22 states ban abortion at some point after 18 weeks, with various exceptions.
Abortion bans are influencing decisions about where to live and work. Many individuals—particularly those interested in having children in the near future—are either leaving abortion-restrictive states or refusing to take jobs there. The resulting talent shortages in states with abortion bans reveal that abortion access is not just a political, legal, or moral issue. Reproductive rights are a business concern.
Workers Are Leaving States With Abortion Bans
States with abortion bans are collectively losing an estimated 36,000 residents per quarter since the Dobbs decision, according to data in a 2025 paper by four economists published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Singles, who tend to be younger, are particularly likely to leave states with abortion bans. The study found a similar pattern in states with highly restrictive abortion laws.
This study mirrors findings from a 2024 survey of over 10,000 adults, conducted by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research in collaboration with the Center for Reproductive Rights and Morning Consult. The survey found that young adults and adults who plan to have children soon are the most likely to flee states because of abortion bans.
Among adults ages 18 to 34, 15% said they had relocated (or know someone who has), and 14% said they had applied for an out-of-state job (or know someone who has), because of state abortion bans. Among adults who are planning to have children within the next ten years, 18% said they had relocated (or know someone who has), and 19% said they had applied for an out-of-state job (or knew someone who has), because of state abortion bans.
“In other words, the individuals most likely to be active in the workforce, starting families, and making long-term economic contributions are also the ones leaving states with abortion restrictions,” according to the IWPR report.
Highly educated adults are also among the most likely to leave a state because of an abortion ban. Among individuals with postgraduate education, 13% reported a move related to state restrictions on abortion, and 14% said they had applied to an out-of-state job or know someone who had done so.
“This suggests that states with abortion bans risk losing highly skilled workers—the very people who drive innovation and economic growth,” concludes the IWPR report.
Workers Are Refusing Job Opportunities In States With Abortion Bans
Workers are not only leaving states with abortion bans, many workers are refusing to move to those states, even with job offers in hand. Younger workers and those who are planning to have children in the near future are particularly averse to working in states with abortion bans.
Over 60% of people ages 18 to 25 said they would “definitely not” or “probably not” live in a state that bans abortion, according to a 2024 CNBC and Generation Lab nationwide survey of over 1,000 Americans. Nearly half of those surveyed (45%) said they would either “definitely reject” or “probably reject” a job offer in a state where abortion is illegal.
Just over a quarter of adults (27%) say they would consider a state’s reproductive health care restrictions either “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” when applying to a new job or deciding whether to relocate for a new job in a different state, according to IWPR 2024 data.
Adults who plan to have children in the next ten years are even more likely to base job decisions on state abortion bans. Among those who plan to have children soon, 45% say they would consider a state’s reproductive health care restrictions either “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” when applying or relocating for a new job in a different state.
State abortion bans are even deterring individuals from traveling for work opportunities. Nearly a quarter of adults (24%) say they consider a state’s reproductive health care restrictions either “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” when deciding whether to travel to that state for work.
The Business Impact Of ‘Brain Drain’ In States With Abortion Bans
The data linking state abortion bans to worker flight reveals another reason why reproductive rights are a business issue. “States with abortion bans may face challenges in attracting and retaining workers, especially younger workers who represent future economic potential,” said the economists authoring the 2025 NBER paper.
“Workers won’t sacrifice their health or their futures for a paycheck, and businesses are feeling the impact,” said Nancy Northup, President and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, in a April 7, 2025 op-ed. “Businesses thrive by attracting top talent, but in states with abortion restrictions, the pool may shrink, innovation may be limited, and recruiting top-tier employees is increasingly difficult.”
“Workers are not willing to trade their health and autonomy for a paycheck,” said Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, President and CEO of IWPR, in a March 3, 2025 statement. “Access to reproductive health care is a fundamental component of workplace equity, and businesses can no longer afford to ignore the impact of abortion restrictions on their workforce.”
What can companies do to mitigate the business impact from abortion bans? Internally, companies can offer robust reproductive health benefits, including covering the cost of out-of-state travel and lodging for abortion care. Externally, business leaders can engage in state law legislation and litigation efforts to protect and advance reproductive rights.
“Business leaders, particularly those who want to attract and retain young and highly educated workers, need to step up by improving benefits and advocating for change in public policy,” the IWPR report recommends.
Business leaders need to “act externally to support reproductive healthcare access,” said Northup, particularly when it comes to states with abortion bans. “When you next meet with the lawmakers you already educate on a host of business issues, tell them why employers need and want public policy that provides workers access to safe, convenient, reliable reproductive healthcare.”