Vermont’s population is about 623,000 – roughly the size of a medium-sized city. With an active workforce of around 325,000, this number has decreased annually by about 1,000-1,500 workers per year. The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has conducted research through the Vermont Futures Project, which has defined a workforce gap of approximately 11,000 workers.
This is a sobering statistic for employers and economic development officials alike. To meet this challenge, the state is in need of an infrastructure of talent development that could build the workforce needed in the current economy, and also attract new businesses and families to Vermont to grow the future economy.
In Vermont, the economy thrives on innovation to create community-based systems and since 2016, Vermont has focused talent development on efforts to convene educators and employers. Specifically, the Vermont Business Roundtable and the Vermont Agency of Commerce put employers in the driver’s seat of those …