Study Shows Workers Fleeing States With Abortion Bans

AB: I apologize as this is way too brief. Women should have and need the right to decide what is correct for themselves without dictates by outside influences. It appears the outside influences want control of the rights of women to decide and are willing to punish them for exercising that right. There’s a new study by The Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) on how outside influences impact a woman’s right to decide. The chart below is one of many similar charts and what women are thinking in the states.

There is also a brief commentary by the Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) on the issues below the chart. The Reproductive Health Care and Job Decisions Poll study by the Institute for Woman’s Policy Research is here.

The Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) released a new study exposing how abortion restrictions are influencing where people live and work, and what they look for in employers. The findings highlight the critical role reproductive healthcare access plays in employee recruitment and retention, workplace satisfaction, and broader economic stability.

“Workers are not willing to trade their health and autonomy for a paycheck,” said Dr. Jamila K.  Taylor, president and CEO of IWPR. 

“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. Our report makes it clear that companies who fail to address these needs risk losing their competitive edge. To build a resilient workforce and thriving economy, it’s up to corporate leaders and lawmakers to take decisive action and make reproductive health care a top priority.”

Key findings from the survey of 10,000 adults conducted by Morning Consult:

Abortion Bans are Causing Talent Migration: 

• One in five individuals planning to have children within the next decade has moved–or knows someone who has moved–to another state due to abortion restrictions. 

Workers Expect More of their Employers:

• 57% of likely future parents prioritize employers offering reproductive healthcare benefits, while 56% of employed adults believe companies should work with lawmakers to protect access to reproductive rights.
• More than half of employed adults (51%) believe companies should speak out in support of reproductive rights.
• Some businesses have started responding to these expectations, with some offering relocation assistance, expanded benefits, or remote work options.  

Corporate leaders face growing pressure to act in the face of these changing dynamics. The report recommends actions for employers to build a resilient workforce and ensure long-term business sustainability, including: 

• Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage: Offering benefits such as covering travel for abortion care services, fertility treatments, and travel support for out-of-state care.  
• Workplace Flexibility: Implementing remote work options or relocation assistance for employees in states with abortion restrictions. 
• Advocacy and Public Support: Taking a stand for reproductive rights through public advocacy and partnerships with organizations working to secure these rights. 

This study aligns with the insights from another study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research on January 6, 2025. Economists from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the College of Wooster found that nearly 129,000 residents have moved away from the 13 states that have implemented near-total abortion bans since the 2022 Dobbs decision.  

This study was done in partnership with the Center for Reproductive Rights. For more information on the report and IWPR’s ongoing work to promote economic equity, please visit IWPR.org.