Vermont’s unemployment rate remained the second-lowest in the nation in April, at just 3.3 percent.
That’s 0.1 percent lower than March’s rate of 3.4 percent, but due to seasonal adjustments the dip is not considered statistically significant. The national average is 6.3 percent. North Dakota has the lowest rate at 2.6 percent.
Labor Commissioner Annie Noonan noted that April tends to be a volatile month for Vermont in terms of employment numbers because the state typically is in between major tourist seasons. Ski resorts are winding down business, but summer jobs don’t pick up until Memorial Day.
“We have seen job growth in Vermont during the last few months, despite some losses in certain areas,” Noonan said in a release.
At 2.5 percent, the Hartford labor market area boasts Vermont’s lowest unemployment rate. Newport is the highest at 6 percent.
The following graph shows the trends of labor force growth and declines over the years, alongside fluctuations in the unemployment rate.
