[flu189]

I agree that tourist type venues that cater to families and that are inexpensive, like the camping reference, would bring people here. Just look at the tourism marketing that has been going on and it's pretty obvious that it targets affluence. With limited exceptions Vermont is not a cost friendly vacation venue, especially for those that have to travel in from outside and rely on lodging. As far as skiing goes, I remember earlier in the season reading that the average patron at Sugarbush boasts a $125k p/year income. This is far removed from mainstream Vermonters. Of course the media publicity earlier concerning the ski season touted expectations for a great year based upon our proximity being the so called tank of gas away for a sizable population. It will come as no surprise when the end figures show the opposite to be true. I wish it was not so, but this current economy is causing virtually everybody to tighten up and pass up leisure and discretionary spending. I also know a person that works in Stowe and the current observations confirm it is bleak. There really is not much we can do to effectively turn it around either and even when the economy begins to rebound, whenever that will be, I think after going through this beating many folks will be very slow to return to spending being more focused on trying to work towards rebuilding trashed portfolios. Nonetheless, while I fully agree that tourism provides little in terms providing Vermonters liveable wages, it remains an essential part of life here. Real job creation with meaningful impact will elude us if we keep to the concept of only fostering attempts to only cultivate small operations, the majority of which cannot afford to provide decent income with benefits.

[GypsySoul22]

Originally Posted by chrismpv

Tourism may have been flat for the past 10 years but it faired much better than other state. Disregarding tourism complete would be cutting our nose off. We still need those dollars. Do we also need manufacturing, etc? Certainly, but each part of the pie is important. A lot of big companies can't find the staff to work for them for decent wages; it's a vicious circle. Put disregarding tourism woulb be a mistake.

And what are these 'decent wages' of which you speak? $10 an hour? Laughable. The only people who seem to make decent money where I live work in NH.

The competition for ANY job in this part of VT is a joke. I worked in administration making $10/hr at a job that anywhere else in the civilized world would pay $15. Yeah, tourism is making money FOR THE OWNERS of the clubs, ski lodges and hotels. The majority of people (of all walks of life, all trades) are underemployed. They are also cut throat and would stomp on their fellow workers to get those tourist tips. They need them to survive.

[mustmove]

Originally Posted by Sherylcatmom

This has been the case for the organization I work with and others in our sector, not just in Vermont but throughout New England... But no fully-qualified person even applied.

Folks spouting the 'can't find qualified employees bit' usually leave out the words 'at the salary we want(or are able) to pay'
You want city skills pay city wages.

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by mustmove

Folks spouting the 'can't find qualified employees bit' usually leave out the words 'at the salary we want(or are able) to pay'
You want city skills pay city wages.

You assume much. The salaries offered were competitive, but of course not by big city standards. The skills needed were reasonable for the industry and not specialized or elite.

Some examples of what I've seen myself and also heard from others: Job applicants who don't return phone calls and don't show up for scheduled interviews. Folks applying for communication jobs while lacking basic communication skills. Applicants who want responsibilities other other than the ones required for the available jobs, and who are annoyed when their offers are not accepted.

But now we are OT. This topic is about the stagnant tourist industry. I don't know what's going on at Killington/Pico, but the small massage therapy business my husband and I own is getting only slightly fewer calls from visiting skiers (or "ski widows" and "widowers") than in previous years.

[sugarmaple]

Actually I was pretty surprised to hear that information on the news; I am very close to Okemo and from the insanity in Ludlow re: parking, cars, waiting in line to get into the restaurants...the difficulty just getting onto Route 103 has not seemed to have changed in the years I have been here.

And, according to inside scoop at both Okemo and Ascutney, the last few years have been incredibly successful ones for them...and for Okemo, now turning into a 4-season resort, especially with their golf course.....

I do however agree with the comments above...I don't see VT changing markedly into a 'commercialized' state at all...tourism will still be a strong source of revenue...except, of course, during mud season

[mustmove]

Okemo seemed kinda dead two weeks ago when I was up there. I have friends in the area that said Christmas was great but the traditionally big days since have been busts. I'm guessing VT is going to be really bad soon. But I don't live there anymore so it isn't my problem to fret over.

[pabear]

Are there readily available employment opportunities in the Human Service field? Obviously in these times even services needed are cut back but this is certainly a field that will never diminish. I hope!

Originally Posted by Sherylcatmom

This has been the case for the organization I work with and others in our sector, not just in Vermont but throughout New England. One organization had a position open for nearly a year, which I'd have gladly taken if it wasn't such a long drive from me. Finally, they hired two people who, together, fill the job opening needs plus other needs. But no fully-qualified person even applied.

Eventually we hire the best folks we can find, but it's been a challenge to find qualified workers.

Obviously, there are also many good workers who can't find jobs. So there's a mix-and-match discrepancy, too.

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by pabear

Are there readily available employment opportunities in the Human Service field? Obviously in these times even services needed are cut back but this is certainly a field that will never diminish. I hope!

Not sure. "Readily available"? I doubt it.

I work in the nonprofit sector, one of many organizations supported entirely by private donations and fee-for-services (and no government money at all). We had two job openings list spring and four job openings between November and January. Five of the six were filled, and the sixth was divided among existing staff as not a single person applied for that last position we were offering.

[pabear]

That really shows a lot about our society in general (not a VT thing but as a country) that in this economy jobs can set empty with little or few applicants. The openings weren't for a fire eating artist were they

Originally Posted by Sherylcatmom

Not sure. "Readily available"? I doubt it.

I work in the nonprofit sector, one of many organizations supported entirely by private donations and fee-for-services (and no government money at all). We had two job openings list spring and four job openings between November and January. Five of the six were filled, and the sixth was divided among existing staff as not a single person applied for that last position we were offering.

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by pabear

The openings weren't for a fire eating artist were they

LOL! How did you know? Can you meet that critical need?