Where employment rose—or didn’t, 2007 to 2013
In 2013, there were still fewer Vermonters employed than in 2007, before the recession took hold. That’s true in about two-thirds of Vermont towns. But for the residents of the remaining third, employment was higher than in 2007.
As the map shows, many of the towns where employment rose were in the northern tier of the state. Measured as a percentage, towns with some of the highest growth were in the Northeast Kingdom, where joblessness tends to lead the rest of the state. Chittenden County, particularly around Burlington, also saw employment rise above pre-recession levels.
The employment figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics are based on surveys of individual households. They include people who identify themselves as self-employed, as well as farm and non-farm workers. In these surveys, employment is based on where people reside, not where they work.
In 2007, an estimated 341,300 Vermonters were working. The annual average dropped below 335,000 in 2009, although some months were even lower than that. By 2013, the average number of people employed during the year was 336,000.
To see the employment levels for 2007 and 2013, place your cursor on individual towns on the map.
