As states move to restrict or ban abortion, and the debate over reproductive rights continues, Americans are reevaluating where they are willing to live and seek employment.
In March, ResumeBuilder.com surveyed 1,250 employed U.S. adults to understand how public policies around reproductive care impact their willingness to work in particular states.
Key findings:
- 1 in 5 workers unlikely to consider a job offer in state with highly restrictive abortion policy
- One-third of pro-choice workers in states with most restrictive abortion laws are considering leaving
- 30% of employees are unlikely to work in a state that passes legislation effectively banning IVF
- 14% of workers are likely to leave their state to work elsewhere if legislation effectively banning IVF passed
1 in 5 Workers Wouldn’t Take a Job in State With Highly Restrictive Abortion Policy
Of workers opposed to highly restrictive abortion policies, 53% (or 19% of the total sample) say they are not very likely (27%) or not likely at all (26%) to consider a job offer in a state with a highly restrictive abortion policy.
Of this group, about half (51%) say nothing would make them more likely to consider a job offer in one of these states. However, 49% say a promotion, higher pay, better benefits, or different responsibilities could motivate them to reconsider and accept the offer.
Women are more likely than men to say they would not consider a job in a state with a highly restrictive abortion policy (60% vs. 46% respectively).
1 in 3 Pro-Choice Workers in States With Most Restrictive Abortion Laws Are Considering Leaving
One-third of workers (33%) living in states with highly restrictive abortion policies who are opposed to these policies say they are extremely likely (7%), very likely (7%), or somewhat likely (19%) to leave the state.
Women are more likely than men to say they would leave the state over its restrictive reproductive policies (37% vs. 29% respectively).
However, higher pay, better benefits, and other incentives could persuade up to 75% of this group to reconsider.
“Public policies affecting women’s health care are impacting where Americans want to live and work,” says Resume Builder’s Chief Career Advisor Stacie Haller. “Our survey, along with observations from my private practice, highlights a discernible trend: Individuals are increasingly evaluating their employment options based on how well they align with their health care needs.”
“In response to this shifting landscape, some companies are adapting by expanding their benefits packages. This may include offering higher salaries or providing compensation for travel expenses incurred when seeking health care services out of state. Such proactive measures aim to accommodate employees’ health care requirements and enhance their overall well-being. Organizations do not want to lose workers due to state policies, which are out of their control.”
3 in 10 Workers Unlikely To Consider Jobs in States That Effectively Ban IVF
Respondents were asked, “How supportive are you of legislation that would effectively ban IVF?” Overall, 50% of workers don’t support this type of legislation. Conversely, 32% do support such legislation, while 19% aren’t sure of their position. Women are more likely than men to not support this type of legislation (60% vs 41%).
Of workers surveyed, 30% say they would be unlikely to consider a new job in a state that passed legislation that effectively banned IVF.
Women are nearly twice as likely than men to have this point of view (40% vs. 22%). Further, women 45 to 54 were much more likely than any other age group to say they would be unlikely to take a job in a state with such legislation.
Similarly, if the state they currently work in passed legislation effectively banning IVF, 14% of workers say they would likely look for another job. This is slightly more true of women than men (16% vs. 13%). Additionally, 22% of women 45 to 54 answered this way.
Methodology
This survey was commissioned by ResumeBuilder.com and conducted online by the survey platform Pollfish. It was launched on March 18, 2024. Overall 1,250 U.S. workers completed the full survey. The survey was census-balanced for each region. Of those surveyed, 25% self-identified as conservative, 42% as moderate, and 24% as liberal.
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