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Confidence High, but Rising Costs and Workforce Challenges Test Growth in Southwestern Vermont

A VermontBiz report says businesses in Southwestern Vermont remain confident about growth, but rising costs and workforce shortages are creating significant headwinds.

By James Barber • September 9, 2026 · 10:41 am
Confidence High, but Rising Costs and Workforce Challenges Test Growth in Southwestern Vermont

Businesses in Southwestern Vermont remain upbeat about the outlook for growth, but rising costs and ongoing workforce challenges are tempering that optimism, according to a VermontBiz report.

The coverage says confidence among local employers is high, yet many are wrestling with higher expenses and difficulty filling positions — factors that could slow expansion even as demand looks favorable.

Local officials and business leaders are watching how those pressures play out in the months ahead as they try to sustain momentum without losing the gains of recent years.