Vermont Slogs Through the Slowest Recovery
in 40 Years

Almost four years after the start of the last recession, the number of non-farm jobs is still 6,600 below Vermont’s 2007 peak. That makes this the slowest recovery of the last five recessions, dating back to the early 1970s. Officially, the recession that started in December 2007 ended in June 2009. But Vermont employers still have not replaced the jobs that were eliminated during the downturn, let alone create new ones for new workers entering the labor market.

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 An Employment Boost From Government
Vermont gained 700 jobs overall in September, thanks to 900 new public-sector jobs, according to data released today by the Vermont Department of Labor. The private sector lost 200 jobs last month, primarily in manufacturing, construction, and trade, transportation, and utilities. At 5.8 percent, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate showed little change from August.

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How Vermonters Commute
More than 314,000 Vermonters commute to work, and about three-quarters of them drove by themselves in 2010, according to new U.S. Census data. Just under 10 percent shared the ride last year—a drop from 2008, when more than 11 percent carpooled. The number of telecommuters is on the rise, however. At-home workers increased to 7.4 percent in 2010 from 5.4 percent in 2006.

Download the Jobs Brief in PDF.