On Thursday, the Federal Trade Commission went so far as to propose a new rule that would prevent employers from requiring workers to sign noncompete agreements. The rule is based on the prohibition of unfair competition outlined in Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. If adopted, this ban would void all current noncompetes and prevent new ones from being made. It has been suggested by economists that such a ban would provide US workers with more leverage in the labor market by creating new job opportunities for millions of workers and significantly raise wages. However, businesses have expressed strong disfavor with such a constraint.
See "Debates arise as the Federal Trade Commission announces proposal to ban noncompete clauses ", Lauren Kaori Gurley, The Washington Post, January 5, 2023