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Chamber urges relocation toolkit and workforce strategies to counter demographic decline
Summary
The Vermont Chamber proposed a relocation branding toolkit, employer relocation housing and targeted workforce outreach as part of a strategy to boost labor force participation and retain graduates.
The Vermont Chamber of Commerce told the Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee on Jan. 15 that the state needs coordinated relocation marketing and workforce strategies to address demographic decline and labor shortages.
"We would love to pilot in Vermont a relocation branding toolkit," Megan said, describing examples from Nebraska, Colorado and New Hampshire and citing the Chamber's interest in combining tourism-style marketing with targeted outreach to prospective workers. The Chamber said the state’s remote-worker and relocation programs have drawn attention and recommended expanding coordinated materials that businesses and communities can use to recruit workers.
Chamber presenters described a multi-pronged approach: marketing to working-age adults and families; promoting career training and nursing pipelines and emphasizing Vermont’s policy commitments (for example, reproductive rights) as part of a value-based recruitment pitch. The Chamber said it will share a white paper and has discussed relocation work with the Department of Labor, noting existing DOL programs and a "relocation package" used in prior outreach.
On demographics, the Chamber cited its research showing a large gap between annual retirements and graduates: "we have 17,500 people retiring in the state every year" and a smaller number of graduates being retained, the Chamber said. They highlighted data that many college graduates leave after finishing studies and that retaining a higher share of graduates—citing Maine as an example—would materially affect workforce supply.
The Chamber also proposed employer-led housing options and incentives to enable businesses to create relocation housing and said it supports pilot programs to enable employers and communities to attract working-age residents.
What happened: Chamber presenters pledged to provide data and a white paper on relocation and to work with the administration and DOL on pilot efforts. No committee vote occurred during the recorded presentation.
Why it matters: Vermont faces a longstanding gap between worker supply and demand; coordinated relocation and retention strategies are policy levers that the Chamber says can increase labor force participation and stabilize employer hiring.
