AREA COUNTIES – The Public Assets Institute, in its recent brief, showed that Washington and Orleans are among the counties that have yet to recover from loss of jobs during Covid-19.
Caledonia and Lamoille have both reportedly recovered, according to the institute.
Vermont still maintains the 3rd lowest unemployment rates in the country, at just 2.6% in May of 2025. The national average was far above this, at 4.2%.
Washington added the second most jobs since Covid-19; Caledonia added the third most jobs. As the years go on, more counties are set to recover, said the report.
Alex Strand
Alex Strand is a Hardwick Gazette reporting intern for this summer. She is a rising junior at the University of Vermont studying English and Psychology. She is from Boston, MA, but has begun to fall in love with the Northeast Kingdom. In her free time, she likes reading, swimming and canoe tripping.

