Illinois licensing reforms are a way to reduce racial inequality

Excerpt:

There’s a better way: Illinoisans should be able to earn a license by training directly with someone in that trade. Apprenticing as a barber on Saturdays would allow someone to keep a full-time job as well as complete the required training in about three years.

The General Assembly can address this in some fields by reintroducing and passing House Bill 4617 from last year, which amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985.

Fixing this is good for improving income and racial outcomes and social mobility, on which Illinois ranks worst among all Midwestern states and 40th nationally, according to research from the Archbridge Institute. It’s also important to getting people back to work and decreasing the state’s 5% unemployment rate and about 8% Black unemployment rate.

Read the full article at The Chicago Sun-Times.

Read Social Mobility in the 50 States here.