Counties with the highest unemployment in Vermont
Despite a relatively low unemployment rate just shy of 4%, as compared to the COVID-19 pandemic peak of 14.7% in April 2020, the fear of job losses remains amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Vermont using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in April 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
Economists forecast a waning risk of recession and predict that the U.S. may instead be headed for an incremental slowdown in growth known as a "soft landing." Still, layoffs among major U.S. employers like Amazon to Tesla have sparked concern among Americans. What's more, unemployment has spiked in nearly half the country's states, which often indicates a looming recession, an economist told Business Insider. And with sky-high prices after a period of record inflation, savings and unemployment payments may not cover basic expenses for jobless Americans for long.
For comparison, the Great Recession of 2007-09 sent unemployment rates up to 10% as of October 2009, and a full recovery took years.
Still, as of April 2024, the national unemployment rate remains relatively low at 3.9%—little changed from the previous month. Regional and state employment varies widely depending on local economies. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state vary, ranging from just 2% in North Dakota to 5.3% in California.
Read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Vermont.
#14. Chittenden County
- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 102,725 people (1,639 unemployed)
#13. Grand Isle County
- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,324 people (84 unemployed)
#12. Addison County
- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,030 people (413 unemployed)
#11. Franklin County
- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 29,225 people (623 unemployed)
#10. Washington County
- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 34,326 people (757 unemployed)
#9. Windsor County
- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 29,967 people (691 unemployed)
#8. Caledonia County
- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,003 people (366 unemployed)
#7. Orange County
- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,270 people (418 unemployed)
#6. Windham County
- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 21,999 people (570 unemployed)
#5. Rutland County
- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 30,070 people (835 unemployed)
#4. Lamoille County
- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,644 people (432 unemployed)
#3. Bennington County
- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,225 people (568 unemployed)
#2. Essex County
- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,747 people (105 unemployed)
#1. Orleans County
- April unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,938 people (591 unemployed)
This story features data reporting by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
