Counties with the highest unemployment in Vermont
While today's unemployment rates are significantly lower than the COVID-19 pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, the fear of job losses remains as workers stare down an uncertain economic future.
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 March 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.
Experts have mixed views of a potential recession. The return of student loan payments, continually high gas prices, persistent inflation, and insurance price escalations are just a few of the factors that could limit consumer spending and potentially prompt another recession.
The last economic recession before the pandemic—the Great Recession of 2007-09—sent unemployment rates up to 10% as of October 2009, and a full recovery took years.
But as of April 2024, the national unemployment rate remains relatively low at 3.9%—up slightly from the previous month. Regional and state employment varies widely depending on local economies. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, 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
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 101,320 people (1,450 unemployed)
#13. Windsor County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 31,033 people (507 unemployed)
#12. Addison County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 22,005 people (401 unemployed)
#11. Windham County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,678 people (461 unemployed)
#10. Washington County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 35,012 people (698 unemployed)
#9. Franklin County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 29,047 people (605 unemployed)
#8. Grand Isle County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,287 people (98 unemployed)
#7. Caledonia County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,191 people (372 unemployed)
#6. Orange County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,268 people (403 unemployed)
#5. Rutland County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 30,623 people (754 unemployed)
#4. Bennington County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,540 people (493 unemployed)
#3. Lamoille County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 15,014 people (415 unemployed)
#2. Essex County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,807 people (113 unemployed)
#1. Orleans County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,181 people (669 unemployed)
This story features data reporting by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
