Most people face arbitrary deadlines in their daily lives. Whether you had a school assignment due on an odd date or had to complete a chore in a certain time frame, these deadlines can become cumbersome.
Unfortunately, arbitrary deadlines implemented via increased government regulation are keeping Utahns out of the labor market. This comes at a time when Utah desperately needs employees to fill essential roles, like those in healthcare left vacant by recent labor shortages. Without these roles being filled, Utah’s labor market will be prohibited from growing at a pace necessary to meet consumer demands.
Often those attempting to become licensed face arbitrary deadlines buried within licensing requirements. These deadlines dictate that a license’s education and experience requirements must be completed either within a certain number of years or no earlier than a certain amount of years.
This time frame unfairly burdens individuals who may have low incomes or large extraneous time commitments. For example, a low-income individual or a mom with multiple kids may need more time to complete the requirements due to not being able to pay for or take time off work for the education requirements within the timeframe.
Under the current system, Utahns could be barred from licensure because they were one minuscule requirement short of meeting licensure requirements in an established given time frame. Would giving this individual another month or week to complete that last hour really harm citizens? Absolutely not.
On the flip side, individuals who do have the means to meet licensure requirements in given time frames are also being punished by this system. If a highly motivated individual wanted to complete a license in an amount of time below the required years to obtain a license they would also be blocked from doing so. The result of this is this individual loses out on the income they could’ve accumulated in their new profession. This can result in monetary burdens that are completely avoidable.
Clearly, unnecessary time restrictions must be done away with. Those hoping to contribute to their communities by entering the workforce must have the flexibility to obtain licenses in a way that does not unfairly burden them. Only when this happens can Utah’s economy and consumers best be served by the workforce.
Policy Associate
Ben was a Policy Associate at Libertas Institute.