What if some regulations designed to protect workers are actually making it harder to find better jobs, earn higher wages, and adapt to a changing economy?

On this episode of Disunion, David Osborne is joined by Scott Lincicome, vice president of general economics at the Cato Institute’s Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, to examine how labor policy affects worker opportunity and economic dynamism.

Scott explains how government mandates, often framed as worker protections, can create barriers to hiring, job mobility, and wage growth. The conversation explores why labor market flexibility matters, how government shape employer decisions, and why worker choice is central to a thriving economy.

David and Scott discuss:

• How regulations can increase hiring costs and limit workforce growth
• Why job mobility and career changes can drive wage gains
• The unintended effects of benefit mandates and occupational licensing
• The growth of independent work and the importance of worker choice

A conversation about labor markets, worker freedom, and the policies shaping the future of work.