Job in Vermont Drop
Even though the state’s unemployment rate continued to decrease, fewer people were able to find a job in Vermont during April.
That month, Vermont’s unemployment rate decreased to 6.4 percent after remaining at 6.6 percent for two months in a row. That recent decrease keeps the state’s rate below the national average of 9.9 percent.
Vermont had a total non-farm employment of 294,000 workers during April, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 295,900 workers during March and a 1.3 percent decrease from last year.
Four industries managed to see a monthly increase in employment during April, including: mining and logging by 100 jobs; manufacturing by 600 jobs; financial activities by 200 jobs; and government by 300 jobs. Employment in the information industry remained even over the month with 5,400 jobs.
Only one industry was able to add jobs over the year. The financial activities’ workforce increased by 1.6 percent between April 2009 and April 2010 to 12,600 jobs. Employment in the mining and logging industry remained even over the year with 800 jobs.
The construction industry took the biggest hit when compared to last year. The industry employed 11,500 workers during April, down from 12,200 workers during March and a 16.7 percent decrease from last year.
Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:
- Trade, transportation and utilities by 2.8 percent
- Professional and business services by 2.3 percent
- Information by 1.8 percent
- Manufacturing by 1.3 percent
- Other services by 1.1 percent
- Government by 1.1 percent
- Leisure and hospitality by .6 percent