copyright the Chronicle December 14, 2016
by Tena Starr
For as long as memory serves, the lack of jobs in the Northeast Kingdom, generally touted as the most economically depressed area of the state, has been considered the big hindrance to prosperity.
But by most measures, the Northeast Kingdom currently has more jobs than workers willing, or able, to fill them. Unemployment in the Derby labor market area for October was at 3.7 percent, which is generally considered full employment. In this sparsely populated labor market, that means only about 500 people are considered to be unemployed.
Nonetheless, few question the fact that people who could work, and would work, are hindered by what state officials and others consider barriers to unemployment.
“I believe people want to work,” said Neil Morrissette at Creative Work Solutions. “It’s those barriers.”
And childcare is a big one, he said.
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