June 24 marked the overturning of Roe v Wade by the Supreme Court. The Roe v Wade ruling granted American women the constitutional right to an abortion. However, following the overturning, abortion has been banned in at least eight states and about half of all states are expected to ban or limit abortion. This will make a huge difference to life in America for many, but did you know that it is also affecting jobseekers?
At Adzuna, we have taken a look at how the overturning of Roe v Wade has changed what jobseekers are looking for by comparing the volume of jobseeker searches per state in the three weeks running up to June 24 with the three weeks following June 24 Following the overturning of Roe v Wade, some states have seen huge increases or decreases in jobseeker searches and the trend is pretty interesting.
Let’s start by taking a look at the states seeing the largest increases in jobseeker activity.
1. New York
Change in jobseeker searches: +48.1%
New York has seen the biggest increase in jobseeker searches out of all states. The north-eastern state has seen an increase of 48.1% in the three weeks after the Roe v Wade ruling compared to the three weeks prior. This surge in interest may be explained by New York being declared a ‘safe harbor’ for those seeking abortions. This means the state will keep abortion legal and protected for anyone seeking care.
2. Illinois
Change in jobseeker searches: +41.1%
Illinois closely follows New York as having the second largest increase in jobseeker searches. The state has seen a huge 41.1% increase since the start of June. Like New York, this may be attributed to Illinois protecting the procedure of abortion. Illinois’ high court has recognized abortion protections under its Constitution. Clearly, jobseekers have appreciated the decisions made by Illinois’ high court and some may feel that its more liberal views could make cities like Chicago good options for their next job.
3. Arizona
Change in jobseeker searches: +15.4%
Although not as large as others on the list, Arizona has also seen an uptick in jobseeker activity. Arizona has seen an increase of 15.4% in jobseeker interest following the Roe v Wade ruling. However, Arizona isn’t as straightforward as New York and Illinois, for example. Currently, abortion is still legal in the state although it is likely that this could change in the future. A ban at 15 weeks of pregnancy will take effect in September.
However, one explanation for Arizona ranking so high on the list could be that many other southern states have had trigger bans. This meant that abortion became illegal in these states immediately after the ruling. To some jobseekers looking to stay south, Arizona may seem a safer option.
4. Alaska
Change in jobseeker searches: +12.6%
With an increase of 12.6% in searches, Alaska has seen the fourth highest increase in jobseeker activity. The state has recognized the right to ‘reproductive choice’ under its Constitution, meaning that abortion is protected. It’s also worth noting that Alaska has no gestational limits on abortion, meaning the law in Alaska doesn’t dictate how far along in a pregnancy an abortion can be accessed. This may be welcome news to women who had been planning to get an abortion around the time of the Roe v Wade ruling.
5. California
Change in jobseeker searches: +7.2%
The golden state of California has seen the fifth highest change in jobseeker searches following the Roe v Wade ruling, with an increase of 7.2%. This may be the result of legislators in California pushing forward plans to make California a ‘sanctuary state’ for abortion. Although people who visit California for out-of-state abortions will be protected, it’s clear that jobseekers are also interested in moving there more permanently.
6. Hawaii
Change in jobseeker searches: +6.2%
Abortion care remains protected under Hawaiian law, which may be one reason that the state has seen an increase of 6.2% in jobseeker searches. Hawaii was the first state to legalize abortions in 1970, three years before the Roe v Wade ruling. This is not going to change even after the overturning of the ruling, which is attracting jobseekers to the state.
7. Wyoming
Change in jobseeker searches: +4.8%
Wyoming is an exception to the general trend seen in other states. Following the overturning of Roe v Wade, jobseeker searches have increased by 4.8%. However, Wyoming has a trigger ban in place. This means that an abortion ban will come into place after state officials certify the new law.
It’s unclear exactly why the state has seen an increase in jobseeker searches. One explanation is that the bill in Wyoming has three exceptions to the ban: to save the mother’s life, incest, and rape, making it more lenient than those of other states. Neighboring South Dakota, for example, has no exceptions to the ban. This means that jobseekers from South Dakota may be seeking to relocate to Wyoming for its slightly more lenient abortion laws.
8. Massachusetts
Change in jobseeker searches: +2.6%
Massachusetts is the final state to have seen an increase in job search activity following the overturning of Roe v Wade. Jobseeker searches increased by 2.6% three weeks after the ruling. This may be due to the Massachusetts House of Representatives approving a bill that aims to protect abortion providers, as well as people seeking abortions from actions taken by other states. Abortion was also codified into state law in 2020, meaning that individuals from other states view it as a safe state.
But, which states have seen the biggest decreases in jobseeker activity?
1. Iowa
Change in jobseeker searches: -25.5%
Iowa has seen the biggest fall in jobseeker activity since the overturning of Roe v Wade. Just three weeks after the ruling, Iowa saw a decrease in jobseeker searches of a huge 25.5%. Although the Hawkeye state doesn’t have a trigger ban in place, its governor is seeking to implement more restrictions on abortions.
The Iowa court also overturned its previous precedent that assured that abortion was a fundamental right under the state constitution a week before Roe v Wade. This means jobseekers had a warning of the future of abortion in the state even before the overturning of Roe v Wade. As well as this, Iowa’s law bans most abortions after six weeks, meaning that for the majority of women who find out that they are pregnant after this period, abortions are essentially out of reach in the state.
2. Montana
Change in jobseeker searches: -22.2%
Montana has seen a decrease of 22.2% in jobseeker searches. This is a pretty significant decrease, but why is this? Currently, Montana does have laws protecting abortion, however, there is a chance this could change in the future. Republican legislators may push for restrictions, which may have alarmed jobseekers in the state.
3. South Dakota
Change in jobseeker searches: -21.4%
South Dakota has seen the next biggest decrease in jobseeker activity since the overturning of Roe v Wade. The state has seen 21.4% fewer jobseeker searches in the three weeks following June 24. South Dakota has a trigger law in place, meaning abortion became illegal in the state following the Roe v Wade overturn. Although there is an exception for when the pregnant person’s life is at risk, there isn’t one for cases involving incest or rape.
4. Nebraska
Change in jobseeker searches: -20.3%
There has been a 20.3% decrease in jobseeker searches in Nebraska since June 24. Currently, abortion is legal in Nebraska, however, the governor may call the state legislature for a special session to restrict access. This is potentially alarming to jobseekers in Nebraska, who may feel that working in neighboring Colorado would be a more liberal choice.
5. Oklahoma
Change in jobseeker searches: -19%
Oklahoma has seen the fifth largest fall in jobseeker activity. The Sooner state has seen a decrease of 19% following the Supreme Court ruling. This can be explained by the fact that Oklahoma’s abortion laws have been described as the strictest in the US. Before the Roe v Wade ruling was overturned, the Oklahoma governor signed a near-total abortion ban into law, making performing an abortion illegal in the state.
In August, the state will add criminal penalties for abortion providers of up to 10 years in prison or a $100,000 fine. This includes pregnancies that result from rape and incest. This is likely to be affecting the number of people who are wanting to work in Oklahoma.
6. Louisiana
Change in jobseeker searches: -18.4%
An 18.4% slip in jobseeker searches has been seen in Louisiana. The southern state has a trigger law in place, banning abortion at any stage of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest.
However, Louisiana hasn’t seen a straightforward ban like other states. The state has seen a temporary block to the trigger law, meaning that clinics have been able to temporarily reopen. However, it is clear that eventually, abortion will become illegal in the state. Jobseekers are well aware of this, which may explain the large decrease in job search activity.
7. New Mexico
Change in jobseeker searches: -17.9%
New Mexico has seen a decrease of 17.9% in jobseeker searches since June 24. Abortion is still legal in the state and seems likely to stay that way. However, unlike neighboring Colorado, New Mexico does not have any laws protecting abortion. This means that in theory, it could be banned.
8. Indiana
Change in jobseeker searches: -17.5%
Indiana has seen a decrease of 17.5% in jobseeker searches following the Roe v Wade ruling. This can be attributed to a proposal in the state, which would lead to bans on abortions. The ban would allow exceptions for rape, incest, and protecting the mother’s life. This proposal may be encouraging jobseekers to look for jobs in states where abortion is and will continue to be protected.
Companies with abortion benefits
Since the Roe v Wade ruling, abortion benefits have become more common among companies. These benefits typically involve employers paying for abortion travel costs for their employees. Some pretty big names are now including this as a perk, including JPMorgan Chase, Target, Walt Disney, and Microsoft. These are just a few names of companies who have spoken out about adding abortion travel costs to their list of perks. The companies with the perks come from a huge range of sectors and more are expected to follow.
For those looking to move between jobs, the overturning of Roe v Wade is having a real effect on their choices. Americans are increasingly looking for jobs in states where abortion is protected in favor of those which have banned abortion. It’s expected that this trend will only continue as more states will move to ban abortion in the coming months.
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