Phil Scott on Jobs

Recruit and relocate workers and families to Vermont

Invest more to help cover interns' wages

First, our internship, returnship, and apprenticeship programs have been incredibly successful, not only giving workers job experience, but also building ties to local employers. To improve on this work, the Department of Labor assists employers to fill and manage internships statewide and we'll invest more to help cover interns' wages.

Supported right-to-work, vetoed family medical leave

Phil Scott: Mixed. Has supported a right-to-work law and vetoed a family medical leave bill. But has also supported teachers' right to strike.

David Zuckerman: No. Such laws "harm union and non-union workers by depressing union membership and limiting [their] effectiveness."

Vetoed bill that raised minimum wage

Phil Scott: No. Vetoed bill that would have raised state minimum wage in 2020, predicting "overall negative impact on economic growth."

David Zuckerman: Yes. "Ensuring that the minimum wage keeps pace with the cost of living will help those working full time."

Tie increases to the minimum wage to the cost of living

Phil Scott
• Believes the current status quo--tying increases to the minimum wage to the cost of living--should remain as is.

  David Zuckerman

• Thinks the state should implement stepped increases above inflation to get to a $15 an hour minimum wage over the next few years.
• Once the state hits $15, believes wage increases should be tied to inflation.

  Scott Milne

• Doesn't think there should be a government-mandated $15 minimum wage, but thinks Vermonters should have access to wages at $15 an hour or above through organic economic growth.

  Rebecca Holcombe

• Supports instituting a $15 minimum wage over the next few years.

  Brenda Siegel

• Supports a "true livable wage," above $15, in the $22 range.
• Supports legislation that has proposed a pathway to a $15 minimum wage by 2024. She thinks that wage should be tied to inflationary increases once it is set.
• Small businesses would be eligible to receive grants or subsidies in order to afford higher wages.

Deal with Vermont's shrinking workforce population

National projections show that 34 states expect to see their working age population grow over the next 25 years. Vermont currently isn't one of them. By 2040, the number of working age people across the country is expected to grow by 15%. But Vermont's will drop by more than 10%.

A shrinking workforce creates a downward spiral. With fewer workers, we have less revenue, and the state becomes less and less affordable. That makes it harder and harder to rebuild, and we're already seeing these effects. We must act now. We have avoided the reality of this crisis for far too long. I am committed to doing whatever it takes to put us on a new path to a more prosperous future.