New Report Estimates Alabama Loses More Than $3 Billion Annually as Abortion Restrictions Reduce Workforce Participation

Researchers link post-Dobbs reproductive health restrictions to lower labor force participation, reduced earnings, and broader economic impacts, with Black and Latina women facing the greatest burden.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama may be losing more than $3 billion in economic activity each year as abortion restrictions continue to affect workforce participation and earnings, according to a new report released by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR).

The analysis, based on three years of labor market data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Population Survey, concludes that restrictive abortion policies enacted or expanded following the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization have produced measurable economic consequences for women, employers, and state economies nationwide.

Researchers estimate that abortion restrictions cost the U.S. economy more than $140 billion in lost earnings during 2025, an increase of approximately $7 billion compared with the organization’s 2024 estimate. Alabama was identified among the states experiencing some of the largest economic impacts due to highly restrictive abortion laws.

According to the report, restrictions on reproductive health care can influence women's ability to remain in school, participate in the workforce, pursue career advancement opportunities, and make long-term family planning decisions. Researchers argue that these factors collectively contribute to lower workforce participation rates and reduced earning potential.

“Abortion restrictions are a reproductive justice and human rights issue that imposes deep, sustained economic harm year after year,” the report states. “Women—especially Black and Latina women—bear the greatest burden.”