Vermont Unemployment Stays Low as Northeast Kingdom Hits Record Highs

At the start of 2025, employment across Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom has reached or neared record highs, with the state’s unemployment rate continuing to remain below the national average. According to the Vermont Department of Labor, the region’s workforce has shown impressive growth in recent months, despite still trailing behind the state’s overall unemployment figures. In Caledonia County, January’s unemployment rate was reported at 3.5%, increasing slightly to 3.6% in February. Essex County saw rates of 4.6% in January, dipping to 4.2% in February, while Orleans County had the highest rate in the state at 5.7% in January and February. Vermont’s statewide unemployment rate stood at 3.0% in January and 3.1% in February, among the lowest in the country.