This is apparently the week for attacks from conservatives on employment legislation. A group called the “Alliance for Worker Freedom” has released a report entitled “Index of Worker Freedom: A National Report Card.” The report ranks each state in the following categories:

• Right to Work (no Right to Work law is rated as bad for workers);
• Minimum Wage (state minimum wage higher than the federal minimum is rated as bad for workers);
• Union Density (a number higher than the national average is rated as bad for workers);
• Paycheck Protection (states without laws prohibiting public employee union from spending dues on politics are rated as bad for workers)
• Prevailing Wage (states with prevailing wage laws are rated as bad for workers);
• Defined Contribution Pension (states not offering defined contribution plans for public employees are rated as bad for workers);
• Collective Bargaining (states with collective bargaining rights for public sector employees are (states with a percentage of public sector union representation higher than the national average are rated as bad for workers);
• Public Sector Union Membership (states with a percentage of public sector union representation higher than the national average are rated as bad for workers);
• Entrepreneurial Activity (states with a percentage of “entrepreneurs starting new businesses” lower than the national average are (states with a percentage of public sector union representation higher than the national average are rated as bad for workers); and
• Workers Compensation (states with premium rates higher than the national average are (states with a percentage of public sector union representation higher than the national average are rated as bad for workers).

Undoubtedly, and perhaps with justification, some will scoff at this rating system and may question whether the scores truly reflect “worker freedom.” But it’s interesting that the report gives Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Mississippi, and South Carolina the highest scores (indicating the greatest degree of "worker freedom") and points out that four of those states rank in the top ten nationally for population growth, which perhaps indicates that employers are moving jobs there. The states receiving the lowest scores rank as follows in population growth: Connecticut (43^rd); Hawaii (23^rd); Minnesota (27^th); New York (47^th); Pennsylvania (37^th); and Rhode Island (50^th).

• Index of Worker Freedom: A National Report Card