Submitted by Blindsay04 t3_11awub8 in vermont
Vermontess t1_j9w5m5h wrote
Reply to comment by Blindsay04 in Anyone familiar with the 'Worker Relocation Incentive Program' by Blindsay04
There won’t be local businesses to spend money at if workers can’t afford to live here. Every small business owner I know is completely hamstrung and stagnant, barely holding on for lack of workers. They can’t pay their employees enough to afford living here.
This has also driven up the costs of local goods and services. We’ve all seen the posts here from entitled tourists and newcomers bemoaning the high costs, long waits, diminished level of service, lack of amenities, and shortened business hours that have resulted from the employee shortage
We are headed towards the gridlock that many ski mountain towns out west are experiencing. They are even seizing land through eminent domain to build affordable housing for locals and prevent ski companies from growing any further. They’re even actively tamping down tourism to give locals a chance to recover
Blindsay04 OP t1_j9waai9 wrote
I'm not saying it isn't an issue but there is not any proof it is a result of remote worker jobs. Plenty of other areas are also having similar issues. And my remote job certainly did not impact the living options for a local and I definitely contribute to local businesses. I could commute into my office but that would be wasteful all around and VT would get less tax money in the process.
Vermontess t1_j9wdl81 wrote
Ive asked several landlords and they all say the same thing. Every time an apartment becomes available they get dozens of applications within a couple of days. Nine times out of ten the best candidate is a remote worker. They’ve even offered to pay above the advertised rent when things were at their most insane in 2021.
How are local workers supposed to find housing? Where are local businesses going to find staff?
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