Governor Scott’s Press Conference 10/25/22

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Innkeepers are a busy bunch. To save you time, VLA attends Governor Scott’s press conferences and takes notes for you. Below is the summary from 10/25/22.

Governor Phil Scott, the Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL) and the McClure Foundation announced the release of Vermont’s Most Promising Jobs, a list assembled by VDOL and McClure that includes more than 50 occupations expected to pay above the state median wage of $22.55/hour and have at least 500 openings over the next decade.

NOTES:

  • Gov. Scott:
    • Demographic challenge – needs to be a primary focus. Almost every proposal I made to the legislature last session had workforce in mind. Housing, broadband, childcare, weatherization. But we need more people – right now over 20k jobs available in state, with a little over 1,500 on unemployment.
    • Here to talk about Vermont’s most promising jobs – Dept. of Labor partnered with McClure Foundation to create list of Vermont’s most promising jobs, which include 50 lucrative careers. Have the jobs right now – need to fill them.
    • The promising occupations with the most projected openings over the next 10 years include: K-12 teachers (7,850), bookkeeping and accounting clerks (5,320), carpenters (4,460), and registered nurses (4,460). The full list of occupations is based on VDOL’s Long-Term Occupational Projections, which was released in September 2022.
    • Important we make sure that the kids know all of the options available to them.
    • Have to continue to make Vermont more affordable, so people that come here to take the jobs aren’t discouraged by the cost of living.
  • Commissioner Harrington
    • Dept. of Labor works every day to connect job seekers with employers looking for skilled workers. Can help write resume, enroll in training program… can help scheduling childcare, figure out reliable transportation.
    • Publication is roadmap to Vermont’s future –  highlights Vermont’s most in-demand occupations both now and over the coming years. Includes registered nurses, fitness trainers, substance use and mental health counselors.
    • In-demand jobs that offer competitive salaries and offer room for growth. Many of the employers already have quality training programs.
    • Coming weeks DOL will be partnering to hold local job fairs. As well as virtual regional New England job fair.
  • Carolyn Weir, McClure Foundation
    • Affiliate of Vermont Community Foundation – here to close opportunity gaps in Vermont.
    • This jobs list – something for everyone. Gives families sufficient paychecks and meaningful work. Gives Vermont what we need.
    • Will be continuing grant making for training and driving to high schools around the state to let people know.
    • List can spark conversation and hope.
  • Mat Barewicz, Vermont Department of Labor
    • Fifth edition of this brochure.
    • Brochure highlights only some of the opportunities available – DOL provides wage data in Vermont on over 600 occupations
    • To be included in the list in the brochure, the job has to be at or above the statewide median range, and be projected to have at least 500 openings over the next decade.
    • Truly something for everyone.
    • Hope it sparks conversations between students and counselors, people just coming to Vermont.
  • Questions:
    • Vermont University reorganizing itself, majority of Vermont students stay in the state after graduation. Vermont state college system has some of the highest tuition in the country.
      • Scott: Still have 30k fewer kids than we did 20 years ago. Now have 75-80k kids in our school. Take that 90% Vermont kids in our state college system – but there’s fewer of them. Have to bring more kids in, or downsize system a bit. Need to attract more people to the state. For tuition, they are working on that. They have been charged with that very issue – we’ll see what happens. Hope their plan works.
    • Problem with unemployment?
      • Scott – 2.1% – one of the lowest in the country. Not necessarily good news. Have 20K jobs available – if you took all of the people on unemployment now, would still have 15k jobs available. Need more people to fill the jobs. Labor force is our problem, not the unemployment rate.
    • Any insight as to where all of the people went?
      • Scott – They retired. Aged out. It’s our demographic. One of the oldest states in the country. Pandemic exacerbated it, but was going to happen anyways.
      • Barewicz – Nationally – 2/3 of labor force challenges due to demographic shift – retirement and baby boomer generation.
    • How has list changed?
      • Barewicz – Pretty consistent. Some changes.
    • Reaching out to Dept. of Education, schools?
      • Barewicz – 100% – want to make sure people are aware of opportunities in state that require tech ed or high school degree. I’ve done presentations with 8th graders and parent teacher nights.
      • Weir – VSAC counselors, libraries, town halls. Connecting with students and job seekers and those who work with them. Coaches, trusted adults. Hope this expands the sense of what’s possible.
    • Does housing need to come before workers? Do the timelines for achieving more housing and trained workers line up well?
      • Scott – Thankfully been working on housing a number of years – took out $37 million housing bond. Leveraged another $200 million of assets. Been able to put that into place – 2,000 units into use. $250 million of other money will benefit us as time goes on – is it enough? Probably not. But don’t just need money – if we can streamline permitting, have private investors – hoping that it will all work together. But it can’t come soon enough. Don’t have all of the affordable housing that we need right now.
    • Newbury facility for troubled youth moving forward – 6 beds coming online. Will this meet the need for the young offender population?
      • Scott – Only a part of our need. Will continue working on other approaches as well. Other facilities throughout the state. Brattleboro Retreat, Windham Sheriffs might play a role. Multi-tiered approach. On the Raise the Age – crux of the issue for me was expunge vs. seal. I believe that record should be sealed (talks about keeping guns out of hands of felons – need to know that they were felons)
    • Marijuana legalization update?
      • Scott – Nothing right now. Seems like the Cannabis Board has done their due diligence. Probably not happening as quickly as some hoped. Need to determine how many open up in how many areas. Areas that I’m sure that they’re going to be considering. So far so good in some respects.
    • Have been asked about the fact that you’re still a Republican – you’ve said it doesn’t define you. But Vermont Republican Party has made very clear (as has the Democratic party) in this legislative cycle that we need to be making or breaking veto power in upcoming session. You were at event in Ferrisburgh, picture taken alongside Joe Benning, with a number of candidates, Republican, that hold views that you certainly have not espoused. Three of them signed onto letter asking Mike Pence to overcome election. I spoke to one of them who said he believes that the 2020 election was stolen. That man is running as a Republican in Addison county for a critical seat. What should people make of you standing alongside these people for a picture. Dems will say “he cares more about a veto override than about American democracy.”
      • Scott – I think that Vermonters know me, they’ve had six years to get to know me. I haven’t hesitated to express my views – much to the chagrin of the Republican party. If you see any of the polling – I struggled a bit with some of my friends in the Republican Party with their support. The event on Friday – I think everyone should understand what the event was. Over the past years, Connie Houston has been a supporter of mine. Has had fundraisers for me. She wanted to have one this year, and she wanted to have one for Joe Benning. She suggested combining the two – which I’ve done multiple times. So that’s what the event was. Fundraiser for myself and Joe Benning. So I went – I have a lot of respect for Connie – common sense Republican. Had no idea who was going to be there. I was as surprised as anyone to find so many candidates from across the state attending a fundraiser for me. As far as the picture goes – I have a lot of pictures taken of me. I think you’ll find many of my friends across the aisle, in their campaign brochure. It’s the Vermont kind of way. When it came to that picture, Benning campaign wanted a picture and I did it. A picture doesn’t mean support. I don’t believe the election was stolen.
    • Do you think that believing the election was stolen should be disqualifying for a candidate?
      • Scott – No. I think we live in a country where you can run for office – I don’t think there are any disqualifying issues. Sway my support for them.
        • Would you tell people in that district to vote for the Democratic candidate?
          • Well – I wouldn’t support them. I don’t know of any other candidates on either side of the aisle (maybe one) who have had the courage to say that they voted publicly for someone from a different party. Sen. Dick Mazza. Have you seen any Democrat high ranking government officials that have said publicly that they’re voting for me or have voted for me?
            • The question is about election deniers.
              • Scott – I don’t support election deniers (will not say he hopes they don’t win).