Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in girth.
Franchising is a fundamental part of the American business landscape and covers a wide range of industries and industries.
From popular fast food chains such as McDonald’s and the Metro to hotel brands such as Marriott and Hilton, the franchise is deeply rooted in everyday life. Even indoor kimchi courts, escape rooms, cryotherapy centers and pet retouching services often operate under franchise models.
In recent years, franchise operations have also become increasingly important drivers of job growth and economic output. according to International Franchise Association (IFA)Franchise business growth is expected to exceed the broader U.S. economy in the coming year.
The franchise economy output is expected to exceed $936 billion this year, with more than 9 million workers employed in the industry.
To assess the impact of franchise operations on job growth at the state level, Cinch researchers analyzed predicted data from IFA and management partnerships. For more details, see the final method.
Here are the states where franchise improves job availability.
15. Arizona
- Chartering work growth contribution: 19.1%
- Franchise Employment Share: 6.1%
- Franchise employment growth: +19,617
- Overall employment growth: +102,660
- Chartered employment growth rate: +10.0%
- Total employment growth rate: +3.0%
- Franchise Employment (2025): 216,138
- Franchise Employment (2023): 196,521
- Total Employment (2025): 3,514,910
- Total number of employed people (2023): 3,412,250
14. Ohio
- Chartering work growth contribution: 21.7%
- Franchise Employment Share: 5.5%
- Franchise employment growth: +7,469
- Overall employment growth: +34,440
- Chartered employment growth rate: +2.4%
- Total employment growth rate: +0.6%
- Franchise Employment (2025): 324,207
- Franchise Employment (2023): 316,738
- Total Employment (2025): 5,846,750
- Total number of employed people (2023): 5,812,310
13. Massachusetts
- Chartering work growth contribution: 22.7%
- Franchise Employment Share: 3.7%
- Franchise employment growth: +5,699
- Overall employment growth: +25,110
- Chartered employment growth rate: +4.1%
- Total employment growth rate: +0.6%
- Franchise Employment (2025): 144,553
- Franchise Employment (2023): 138,854
- Total Employment (2025): 3,891,400
- Total number of employed people (2023): 3,866,290
12. Oklahoma
- Chartering work growth contribution: 25.5%
- Franchise Employment Share: 6.1%
- Franchise employment growth: +5,056
- Overall employment growth: +19,860
- Chartered employment growth rate: +4.5%
- Total employment growth rate: +1.1%
- Franchise Employment (2025): 116,929
- Franchise Employment (2023): 111,873
- Total Employment (2025): 1,902,210
- Total number of employed people (2023): 1,882,350
11. Pennsylvania
- Chartering work growth contribution: 27.5%
- Franchise Employment Share: 4.9%
- Franchise employment growth: +19,630
- Overall employment growth: +71,270
- Chartered employment growth rate: +6.5%
- Total employment growth rate: +1.1%
- Franchise Employment (2025): 320,635
- Franchise Employment (2023): 301,005
- Total Employment (2025): 6,497,990
- Total number of employed people (2023): 6,426,720
10. Indiana
- Chartering work growth contribution: 28.4%
- Franchise Employment Share: 5.7%
- Franchise employment growth: +11,046
- Overall employment growth: +38,920
- Chartered employment growth rate: +5.9%
- Total employment growth rate: +1.1%
- Franchise Employment (2025): 198,127
- Franchise Employment (2023): 187,081
- Total Employment (2025): 3,474,320
- Total number of employed people (2023): 3,435,400
9. Virginia
- Chartering work growth contribution: 28.7%
- Franchise Employment Share: 6.3%
- Franchise employment growth: +20,027
- Overall employment growth: +69,810
- Chartered employment growth rate: +8.0%
- Total employment growth rate: +1.7%
- Franchise Employment (2025): 270,173
- Franchise Employment (2023): 250,146
- Total Employment (2025): 4,297,050
- Total number of employed people (2023): 4,227,240
8. Kentucky
- Chartering work growth contribution: 29.5%
- Franchise Employment Share: 6.3%
- Franchise employment growth: +12,817
- Overall employment growth: +43,480
- Chartered employment growth rate: +10.5%
- Total employment growth rate: +2.1%
- Franchise Employment (2025): 135,086
- Franchise Employment (2023): 122,269
- Total Employment (2025): 2,144,460
- Total number of employed people (2023): 2,100,980
7. Mississippi
- Chartering work growth contribution: 30.6%
- Franchise Employment Share: 6.1%
- Franchise employment growth: +2,561
- Overall employment growth: +8,380
- Chartered employment growth rate: +3.4%
- Total employment growth rate: +0.7%
- Franchise Employment (2025): 77,317
- Franchise Employment (2023): 74,756
- Total Employment (2025): 1,258,230
- Total number of employed people (2023): 1,249,850
6. West Virginia
- Chartering work growth contribution: 32.7%
- Franchise Employment Share: 5.6%
- Franchise employment growth: +2,168
- Overall employment growth: +6,630
- Chartered employment growth rate: +5.6%
- Total employment growth rate: +0.9%
- Franchise Employment (2025): 40,798
- Franchise Employment (2023): 38,630
- Total Employment (2025): 727,250
- Total number of employed people (2023): 720,620
5. Michigan
- Chartering work growth contribution: 34.6%
- Franchise Employment Share: 5.7%
- Franchise employment growth: +9,136
- Overall employment growth: +26,410
- Chartered employment growth rate: +3.6%
- Total employment growth rate: +0.6%
- Franchise Employment (2025): 261,167
- Franchise Employment (2023): 252,031
- Total Employment (2025): 4,621,940
- Total number of employed people (2023): 4,595,530
4. Louisiana
- Chartering work growth contribution: 53.9%
- Franchise Employment Share: 6.7%
- Franchise employment growth: +13,234
- Overall employment growth: +24,570
- Chartered employment growth rate: +10.9%
- Total employment growth rate: +1.2%
- Franchise Employment (2025): 135,086
- Franchise Employment (2023): 121,852
- Total Employment (2025): 2,002,020
- Total number of employed people (2023): 1,977,450
3. Idaho
- Chartering work growth contribution: 57.2%
- Franchise Employment Share: 6.8%
- Franchise employment growth: +2,899
- Overall employment growth: +5,070
- Chartered employment growth rate: +6.2%
- Total employment growth rate: +0.7%
- Franchise Employment (2025): 49,559
- Franchise Employment (2023): 46,660
- Total Employment (2025): 729,430
- Total number of employed people (2023): 724,360
2. Maine
- Chartering work growth contribution: 73.4%
- Franchise Employment Share: 4.7%
- Franchise employment growth: +6,257
- Overall employment growth: +8,530
- Chartered employment growth rate: +22.6%
- Total employment growth rate: +1.2%
- Franchise Employment (2025): 33,969
- Franchise Employment (2023): 27,712
- Total Employment (2025): 725,640
- Total number of employed people (2023): 717,110
1. South Carolina
- Chartering work growth contribution: 87.5%
- Franchise Employment Share: 8.8%
- Franchise employment growth: +47,018
- Overall employment growth: +53,750
- Chartered employment growth rate: +27.9%
- Total employment growth rate: +2.3%
- Franchise Employment (2025): 215,514
- Franchise Employment (2023): 168,496
- Total Employment (2025): 2,438,850
- Total number of employed people (2023): 2,385,100
Methodology
To assess the impact of franchise operations on job growth at the state level, Cinch researchers analyzed employment trends between 2023 and 2025. The focus of the study is on the extent to which franchise employment growth contributes to overall job growth in each state. Key metrics used in this analysis include:
- Chartering work growth contribution: The percentage of total employment growth due to franchise states.
- Franchise Employment Share: The proportion of the total number of workers employed in each state that the franchise business employed.
- Franchise employment growth: Absolute and percentage changes in the number of franchise employees from 2023 to 2025.
- Overall employment growth: Absolute and percentage changes in overall national employment (non-agricultural wages and wage workers) during the same period.
The number of employed people in 2023 and the estimated number of employed people in 2025 are obtained from the forecast of management partnerships Short-term Career Forecast (2023–2025)a widely used data set for labor market forecasting.
Franchise employment statistics for 2023 and forecasts for 2025 are sourced from 2025 Chartered Economic Outlook ReportInternational Franchise Association (IFA) and Flandastudied the trends of franchise throughout the United States
Hawaii was not included due to the lack of data availability for the predictions of the management partner dataset.
