WCV Dashboard

Use the links below to skip down to a specific section of the dashboard:

This interactive dashboard provides data feeds indicating the economic health of our Region. Which data we measure was identified by the West Central Vermont CEDS team, its partners, and the public during the public outreach phase of the project.

The data can be displayed for the entire region and also filtered to show data just for Addison, Chittenden, Rutland, Orange, and Washington counties. Note that all of Orange County is not included in the CEDS region, though we still present its data in full. Some data is available Statewide only at this point. Most demographic data was gathered from the U.S. Census. You can view the margins of error for these demographic figures by following the source links on the bottom of the charts to the Census Data Explorer. 

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Additional data may be available directly through the regional Regional Development Corporations or Regional Planning Commissions.

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Goal #1: Attract New Workers and Expand the Labor Force

Goal One of the West Vermont CEDS is to attract new workers of all skills sets, training, and expertise to the Region. The CEDS also aims to remove existing barriers to workforce participation for existing residence. This two pronged approach aims to combat the state-wide labor shortage due to the impacts of COVID-19, an aging population, and other structural barriers to labor participation.

The CEDS sets out three indicators of the Region’s progress towards attracting new workers and expanding the labor force. These indicators are:

  1. Labor force participation & the employment/population ratio

  2. Capacity of regulated early care and education programs in Vermont

  3. Households spending 30% or more of their income on housing

Indicator 1: Labor force participation & the employment/population ratio

  • The labor force participation rate is an estimate of the economy’s active workforce. It includes all civilian and non-institutionalized people aged 16 or older and compares the proportion of those who are working or seeking work outside the home to those who are neither working nor seeking work outside the home. Because it accounts for people who have given up looking for work, this may make the labor force participation different than the unemployment rate. The unemployment numbers do not take into account those who have given up looking for work.

    The employment/population ratio indicates how efficiently an economy provides jobs for people who want to work. A high ratio means that a large proportion of the population is employed.

  • Labor force participation and the employment/population ratio relate to Goal One, attracting new workers and expanding the workforce, by showing how many people are in or are trying to join the workforce.

  • Success for this indicator would be an upwards trend in the labor force participation rate and employment/population ratio, showing that more people have joined, or are seeking to join, the workforce.

  • Most counties in the CEDS Region have labor force participation rates and employment/population ratios that are higher (better) than the national average. Labor force participation dropped sharply across the world during the Covid-19 pandemic and we do not yet have complete data on how the CEDS Region has recovered.

Indicator 2: Capacity of regulated early care and education programs in Vermont

  • Regulated programs have gone through a licensing process with the Vermont Department for Children and Families Child Development Division (CDD). The licensing process requires programs to meet certain health and safety regulations and programming guidelines (such as developmentally appropriate play time and activities that promote healthy development). The licensing process also requires the State to inspect programs to make sure they provide a safe and age-appropriate space and meet other regulations and guidelines for child care and early education.

  • Infants are children between 6 weeks and 23 months.

    Toddlers are children aged 24 through 35 months.

    Preschoolers are three- and four-year olds.

  • Families that lack access to child care may not be able to participate in the work force because they have to provide care for their loved ones. This is especially important for women workers. For example, one study estimates that lack of access to “family-friendly” policies, such as paid parental leave and childcare, explains nearly a third of the decline in U.S. women’s labor force participation relative to other OECD countries. Increasing the supply of regulated early care and education programs will attract new workers and expand the labor force by increasing the number of families who can participate in the Region’s workforce.

  • Success for this indicator would be for all children likely to need care to have access to care. A child is likely to need care if they live in a family with two parents and both parents work. If a child lives in a single-parent household, it means that the child’s parent works.

  • The CEDS Region currently does not have sufficient regulated child care options to meet the needs of infants, toddlers, or preschoolers.

    Strategic capacity development efforts to increase the supply of infant child care slots seem to be working, and from 2018-2022 most counties in the Region saw slight increases in the percent of infants likely to need child care with access to regulated programs. However, from 2020-2022, most counties in the Region also experienced a sharp drop in the percent of preschoolers with access to regulated programs.

Indicator 3: Households spending 30% or more of their income on housing

  • Households spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs, including rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and other fees, are considered housing cost burdened according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s definition of affordable housing. When households spend more than 30% of their income on rent, it can be difficult to afford other basic necessities such as food, transportation, and healthcare.

  • The high cost of housing in the Region limits the ability of local employers to attract new workers to the Region. Decreasing the number of households paying 30% or more of their income on housing would help attract new workers and keep the work force that is already in the Region.

  • Success would be a decrease in the number of households who are spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

  • Owners and renters are slightly more cost burdened in Vermont compared to the United States. A quarter of home owners in the Region are cost burdened and 52% of renters in the Region spend more than 30% of income on housing. in 2022, the national average for households spending more than 30% of their income on housing is 46% for renters and 21% for homeowners.

Supply and Demand: Regulated Childcare Slots in 2022

Goal #2: Equity

Goal Two of the CEDS is to facilitate equitable economic development planning, and the delivery of services and programs, that advance opportunities for the traditionally under-represented populations in the regional economy.

The CEDS sets out four indicators of the Region’s progress towards equitable economic development. These four indicators are:

  1. The number of BIPOC owned businesses

  2. The number of women owned businesses

  3. Median household income by race and ethnicity

  4. Unemployment by race and ethnicity

Indicator 1: The number of BIPOC owned businesses

  • BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. The data displayed here comes from the U.S. Census Survey of Business Owners (SBO). The SBO covers all nonfarm businesses filing Internal Revenue Service tax forms as individual proprietorships, partnerships, or any type of corporation, and with receipts of $1,000 or more. The SBO covers both firms with paid employees and firms with no paid employees. The SBO is conducted on a company or firm basis rather than an establishment basis. Business ownership is defined as having 51 percent or more of the stock or equity in the business.

    Thus, for this indicator, BIPOC owned business refers to non-farm businesses with receipts over $1000 where someone with 51% or more of the stock or equity in the business identifies as Black, Indigenous, or as a Person of Color.

  • Changes in the number of BIPOC owned businesses indicates whether the Region is moving towards equitable economic development. BIPOC populations have been traditionally under-represented in the Vermont economy.

  • Success would look like an increase in the number of BIPOC owned businesses. Although equal is not the same as equitable, seeing equivalent rates of business ownership between White and BIPOC populations would indicate that equitable economic development is improving.

  • In recent years there has been a gradual decrease in the number of BIPOC businesses and business owners.

Indicator 2: The number of women owned businesses

  • The data displayed here comes from the U.S. Census Survey of Business Owners (SBO). The SBO covers all nonfarm businesses filing Internal Revenue Service tax forms as individual proprietorships, partnerships, or any type of corporation, and with receipts of $1,000 or more. The SBO covers both firms with paid employees and firms with no paid employees. The SBO is conducted on a company or firm basis rather than an establishment basis. Business ownership is defined as having 51 percent or more of the stock or equity in the business. The SBO currently only offers survey respondents to choose between male and female genders.

    Thus, for this indicator, women owned business refers to non-farm businesses with receipts over $1000 where someone with 51% or more of the stock or equity in the business identifies as a woman.

  • Changes in the number of women owned businesses indicates whether the Region is moving towards equitable economic development. Women owned businesses have been traditionally under-represented in the Vermont economy.

  • Success would look like an increase in the number of women owned businesses. Although equal is not the same as equitable, seeing equivalent rates of business ownership between men and women would indicate that equitable economic development is improving.

  • There has been a slight upward trend in the number of women-owned businesses in Vermont. However, there is still disparity between women owned businesses and businesses owned by men.

Indicator 3: Median Household Income by Race and Ethnicity

  • A household in the statistical sense of the word means all the occupants of the same dwelling, without these people necessarily being related (e. g. roommates). A household may consist of only one person.

    Median household income refers to the income level earned by a given household where half of the households in the geographic area of interest earn more and half earn less. Median household income is a n accurate measure for summarizing income at the geographic level as compared to average household income since it is not affected by a small number of extremely high or low income outlier households.

    The data displayed above is derived from US Census data. The US Census tracks five racial categories (White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander) and two ethnic categories ( Hispanic/Latino and Non-Hispanic/Non-Latino).

  • Median household income reflects the economic well-being of a region’s population and highlights the hardships that impede residents of color from sharing in regional prosperity.

  • Reducing the differences between median household income across racial and ethnic groups is an indicator that the region is moving towards equitable economic development.

  • There are still disparities in median income across races in the Region. In Vermont, as across the country, these differences were deepened by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Indicator 4: Unemployment by Race and Ethnicity

  • The data displayed above is derived from US Census data. The US Census tracks five racial categories (White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander) and two ethnic categories ( Hispanic/Latino and Non-Hispanic/Non-Latino).

    Unemployment measures the number of people who are jobless, actively seeking work, and are available to take a job.

  • Goal two, equity, is impacted by differences in unemployment levels between demographics. Existing disparities even in the midst of lower unemployment rates overall point toward Black and Hispanic workers facing higher rates of job losses in the event of a recession. This makes racial disparities in unemployment an equity concern.

  • Reducing the differences between unemployment rates across racial and ethnic groups is an indicator that the region is moving towards equitable economic development.

  • Overall, Vermont has lower unemployment rates than the rest of the country. There are still disparities across race and ethnicity, however the degree of disparity is smaller than at the national level.

Goal #3: Business Development and Job Creation

Goal Three of the CEDS is to support job retention and growth at existing high wage employers, expand economic diversification, and create a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs to create and growth their business within the Region.

The CEDS sets out four indicators of the Region’s progress towards business development and job creation. These four indicators are:

  1. GDP

  2. Job Creation Rates

  3. Median Household Income

  4. Number of Employee-Owned Businesses

Indicator 1: GDP

Indicator 2: Job Creation Rates

Indicator 3: Median Household Income

  • Gross domestic product (GDP) is the total monetary or market value of al the finished goods and services produced within a geographic area’s borders.

  • GDP must steadily increase to support business development and job creation. Economists use a rule of thumb called Okun’s law to determine the speed of job creation. Using Okun’s law, economists estimate that GDP must have a growth rate of at least 2.5% to lead to job creation. GDP growth less than 2.5% leads to job loss.

  • Success would be a GDP with a growth rate of at least 2.5%. This would lead to job creation. GDP growth less than 2.5% leads to job loss.

  • GDP in Vermont and the CEDS Region has gradually increased over the past two decades. However, GDP and GDP percent change dropped in 2019 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and the Region is still recovering.

  • A household in the statistical sense of the word means all the occupants of the same dwelling, without these people necessarily being related (e. g. roommates). A household may consist of only one person.

    Median household income refers to the income level earned by a given household where half of the households in the geographic area of interest earn more and half earn less. Median household income is a n accurate measure for summarizing income at the geographic level as compared to average household income since it is not affected by a small number of extremely high or low income outlier households.

  • Median household income provides information about the financial resources available to households, and is closely tied to employment levels, educational attainment, and health. Median household income impacts Goal Three, business development and job creation, because rising productivity that leads to higher wages will expand consumer demand, stimulating further production of goods and services and creating a circle of growth.

  • Success would be an upwards trend in median household income.

  • We are doing well. Median household income has been gradually rising in the Region over the past decade.

  • Jobs growth is a measure of how many nonfarm jobs the U.S. economy added in the prior month as estimated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

  • The job creation rate is a direct measurement of Goal Three.

  • Success would be a upwards trend in job creation.

  • Vermont has had an upwards trend in job creation in the aftermath of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Indicator 4: Number of Employee-Owned Businesses

  • Employee ownership is a term for any arrangement in which a company’s employees own shares in their company or the right to the value of shares in their company. Employee ownership is a broad concept that can take many forms, ranging from simple grants of shares to highly structured plans. The most common form of employee ownership in the U.S. is the employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), a highly tax-advantaged plan in which employees own shares through a trust funded by the company. Other forms of employee ownership include stock options, stock grants, synthetic equity (granting the right to the value of shares but not the shares themselves), worker cooperatives, and employee ownership trusts.

  • Employee-owned businesses impact Goal Three, business development and job creation, because employee ownership tends to substantially improve business performance and employee financial well-being. Research shows that companies where at least 30% of the shares are owned by a broad-based group of employees are more productive, grow faster, and are less likely to go out of business. According to recent research by the National Center for Employee Ownership, employee-owners have higher wages and net worths, receive better benefits, and are less likely to lose jobs to cuts and outsourcing during a downturn, compared with workers who don’t have ownership stakes in their organizations.

  • Success would be an upward trend in the number of employee-owned businesses.

  • The Vermont Employee Ownership Center tracks the number of employee-owned businesses in Vermont. There has been a steady increase in the number of Employee-Owned businesses in Vermont, with three new companies becoming established as employee=owned businesses in 2022.

Goal #4: Workforce Development and Employee Retention

Goal Four of the CEDS is to facilitate connection-building across public and private labor force stakeholders to improve workforce training and education alignment, collaboration, insights, and strategies on the regional level. The CEDS also aims to provide regional coordination among stakeholders to deliver effective workforce training and education to the new and existing workforce.

The CEDS sets out one indicator for Goal four: the number of Vermont high school students enrolled in career and technical programs.

Indicator 1: The number of Vermont high school students enrolled in career and technical programs

  • Career and technical programs refers to courses and programs designed to prepare students for careers in current or emerging professions. At the high school level, these programs provide students with opportunities to explore a career theme of interest while learning a set of technical and employability skills that integrate into or complement their academic studies. High school career and technical education is meant to connect with and lead to postsecondary programs of study or additional training after high school, which may include more specialized technical instruction. These pathways can culminate in postsecondary degrees or certificates, apprenticeships, or employment.

  • Students enrolled in career and technical programs receive workforce training that augments and aligns with more traditional systems of education. An upward trend in the number of students enrolled in these programs would indicate that more members of the workforce are receiving training and development.

  • Success would be an increase in the number of students enrolled and career and technical programs. Ideally, the number of students gaining career and technical skills would be sufficient to meet Vermont labor market demands.

  • There has been a slight upward trend in the number of students participating in career and technical programs. This is a positive sign for workforce development and employee retention. However, there is still room for improvement. The demand for skilled labor in Vermont still surpasses the available workforce.

Goal #5: Infrastructure and Resilience

Goal Five of the CEDS is for the Region to actively participate in the planning, funding, and construction of infrastructure projects needed to strengthen the regional economy. The aim is that these projects will support equity, smart growth principals, and economic resilience in response to climate change and other disasters.

The CEDS sets out two indicators for the Region’s progress on improving infrastructure and resilience. These two indicators are:

  1. Broadband Access

  2. The Number and Distribution of EV Charging Stations

Indicator 1: Broadband Access

  • Internet speed is the measure of how much time it takes a certain amount of data to transfer from a server to your device and vice versa. The Vermont Department of Public Service measures three different levels of internet speed. These are measured in megabits per second (Mbps) of download/upload speeds:

    100/100 Mbps or greater (typically fiber to the premise – FTTP) - Necessary for institutions like hospitals, schools, libraries, and businesses. A home user with this speed can stream in 4K on 5+ devices; download big files quickly; and run 5+ smart devices.

    25/3 Mbps (often using coaxial cable; DSL can reach this speed over short distances) - Necessary for typical home uses like homework, streaming video, and web browsing. A home user with this speed can stream HD on a few devices; play online games or attend online meetings; and run 1-2 smart devices.

    4/1 Mbps (includes DSL and Fixed Wireless) -Minimum speed necessary for internet access. A home user with this speed can send emails; search google; and stream in HD on a single device.

  • Broadband access is crucial infrastructure necessary to improve the resilience of the Region. Internet speed matters because it sets the parameters for what you can do online. Having sufficiently fast internet makes it easier to do high-bandwidth activities (such as video conferencing, downloading large files, or streaming video) without worrying about long load times, buffering, or a dropped connection. Especially in our post-pandemic world, sufficiently fast internet is crucial for a variety of functions including work, healthcare, education, governance, and public safety.

  • As of January 2023, the Federal Communications Commission considers buildings with access to less than 25/3 Mbps to be underserved. At minimum, success would be to move towards 100% access to 25/3 Mbps service.

    However, The COVID-19 pandemic drastically increased the number of people requiring high speed internet. As a result, the FCC is now considering increasing the underserved broadband standard from 25/3 Mbps to 100/100 Mbps. 100% access to 100/100 Mbps would support increased resilience in the Region.

  • Currently 73.7% of the Region is served 25/3 mbps or better. 16.3% of the region is still “unconnected” under federal law.

Indicator 2: The Number and Distribution of EV Charging Stations

  • EV (electric vehicle) charging stations are the public or private parking spaces served by electric vehicle supply equipment, including all signs, information, pavement, surfaces, surface markings, fee collection systems, and protective equipment in which a vehicle is recharged.

  • More EV charging stations makes it easier for Vermonters to switch to EVs. EVs increase our energy independence and contribute to healthier air and lower carbon emissions. However, the availability of charging stations can be a barrier to choosing to switch to an EV. While the network of charging stations and vehicle mileage range has increased dramatically, Vermonters want to be confident that they can get there from here, even on long trips.

  • The State is working on a statewide EV charging plan to help make sure travelers on Vermont roads will never be more than about 30 miles to a fast charging location.

  • Since 2014 the State of Vermont has invested over $3.5M in public EV charging stations in all 14 counties across the state including 41 fast charging stations and 89 Level 2 charging stations. Recent investments to bolster the EVSE network has positioned Vermont as #1 in the nation for the number of EV charging stations per capita, with 114 public charging stations per 100,000 people.

Interactive Map of EV Charging Stations in the Western Central Vermont Region

  • Level 1 charging stations deliver 120 V electricity, similar to most other outlets. This is inexpensive and very easy to install but takes a long time (15 hours for an EV or 10 for a PHEV) to charge a battery. These EVSEs are recommended for homes, hotels, airports, and places of work.

  • Level 2 charging stations deliver 240 V electricity, so they require the same wiring as a clothes dryer. A typical installation of two public Level 2 stations costs $15,000–$18,000 and can fully charge common EVs in 3 hours 40 minutes or PHEVs in 2.5 hours. This charging time makes it ideal for shoppers, restaurant diners, and people out being entertained.

  • Fast charging stations (level 3) include a converter so they can provide direct current (DC) to the vehicle. These stations require a dedicated breaker and special grounding equipment, which drives the costs up. A typical installation of two public Level 3 stations costs $65,000–$70,000, but there are major economies of scale if more are added. The advantage of Level 3 stations is they are fast—20–40 minutes for a full charge on an EV and 20 minutes for a PHEV. Keep in mind that partial charges are often all that would be needed for a vehicle to get home, so charging just a few minutes at a Level 3 station has great value. In the future, fast charging could draw many customers to fast-turnover businesses such as convenience stores and coffee shops.

Goal #6: Quality of Life

Goal Six of the CEDS is to balance economic development goals and growth with the importance of retaining key elements of our high quality of life in West Central Vermont. This includes ample access to outdoor recreation, arts and culture, high quality K-12 public schools, and compact settlement surrounded by rural countryside.

The CEDS sets out one indicator of the Region’s progress towards economic growth that retains our high quality of life: the percentage of new housing in areas planned for growth as defined in each regional comprehensive plan.

DATA COMING SOON!