FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mathew Barewicz
Director of Economic & Labor Market Information
mathew.barewicz@vermont.gov
802-828-4153
Department of Labor Announces Changes to Availability of Sub-State Data
As previously announced, the Department is highlighting changes to the availability of sub-state data through our Labor Market Information division.
The federal government has discontinued using New England City and Town Areas (NECTAs). This change will affect the Burlington-South Burlington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), all Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Labor Market Areas in Vermont. These Statistical Areas will now be delineated based on counties rather than towns. For the past 20 years, New England States have operated with county and NECTA-based Statistical Areas, whereas the rest of the country has only used county-based areas. This dual system created complexity and inconsistency nationwide. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget's decision to cease updates to the NECTAs in the 2020 Standards for Delineating Core-Based Statistical Areas is driven by these issues and federal agencies' limited use of NECTAs.
The Department acknowledges that this federal decision will impact the availability of sub-state data. However, this does not mean a loss of important sub-state information. Data for towns, counties, and other newly defined federal sub-state regions will continue to be produced by the terms of each data program. The first program affected will be the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), with the August release of Q1 2024 data. Other data programs will adopt these changes in 2025.
If Vermonter’s have questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions regarding sub-state data, please contact Mathew Barewicz, Director of Economic & Labor Market Information, at mathew.barewicz@vermont.gov or 802-828-4153.
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