2025 Vermont Business Climate Survey Results Released

The Vermont Futures Project has released the 2025 Vermont Business Climate Survey Findings Report, offering a detailed look at how employers across Vermont are experiencing the state’s economic environment. With responses from one hundred and thirty nine employers representing every major industry and all fourteen counties, this report provides an important snapshot of the conditions shaping Vermont’s economic future.

 

The findings show what many Vermont businesses continue to experience every day. Workforce shortages remain the most pressing challenge, affecting the ability of employers to meet demand and plan for growth. Housing availability and affordability continue to limit recruitment, retention, and mobility. Operating costs, including healthcare expenses and taxes, are placing growing pressure on budgets. Employers also express concern about regulatory predictability and whether their perspectives are reflected in statewide policy conversations.

 

These insights closely align with the priorities of the Vermont Economic Action Plan, which outlines the long term strategies needed to grow the workforce, expand housing supply, strengthen affordability, and create a more competitive and resilient future for the state. The survey results help clarify where progress is needed and where Vermont has the greatest opportunity to support long term economic stability.

 

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce appreciates the leadership of the Vermont Futures Project in producing this comprehensive analysis. Data informed insights like these are essential for shaping policy conversations in Montpelier and guiding collaborative work with the business community. The report provides a grounded understanding of the challenges employers face and reinforces the need for long term, thoughtful solutions.

 

Vermont businesses, policymakers, and community partners are encouraged to explore the full report and use this information to support planning, decision making, and collective action.

 

Read the full 2025 Business Climate Survey Findings Report

A donut chart showing Vermont employers’ ratings of the overall business climate in Vermont. The largest share, forty eight point nine two percent, rated conditions as fair. Twenty point eight six percent rated conditions as good, nineteen point four two percent as poor, nine point three five percent as very poor, and one point four four percent as excellent. The average rating is two point eight six out of five.
A donut chart showing survey responses on whether the business community’s voice is heard in Montpelier. Fifty three point three percent said no, twenty six point seven percent said yes, and twenty percent were unsure.
A horizontal bar chart showing the top challenges identified by Vermont employers. Workforce ranks highest with seventy seven mentions, followed by taxes and fees at sixty six, housing at sixty one, healthcare at fifty seven, and regulation and permitting at forty six. Additional challenges include insurance, consumer confidence, childcare, crime and public safety, access to capital, inflation, supply chain issues, energy, and other responses.