Last month, I wrote that the surge in antiabortion laws in red states might induce working professionals to refuse job offers in those states or even produce a flood of exits.

The evidence then was largely anecdotal. Now, thanks to the giant pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly & Co., there’s hard evidence that we stand on the water’s edge.

This law will hinder Lilly’s — and Indiana’s — ability to attract diverse scientific, engineering and business talent from around the world.

— Eli Lilly & Co. protests Indiana antiabortion law

Lilly, one of the largest employers in Indiana, said late last week that the recent enactment of one of the nation’s strictest antiabortion laws would force it to “plan for more employment growth outside our home state.”

Lilly said it is concerned that the measure, which passed at a special session called by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, “will hinder Lilly’s — and Indiana’s — ability to attract diverse scientific, engineering and business talent from around the world.”

The company’s statement noted that although Lilly has “expanded our employee health plan coverage to include travel for reproductive services unavailable locally, that may not be enough for some current and potential employees.”

A multinational company that has been based in Indianapolis for 145 years, Lilly also took a swipe at the legislators who passed the law and at Holcomb, who signed it on Aug. 5.

Although abortion is “a divisive and deeply personal issue with no clear...

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