Vermont looks to encourage legal immigration pathways

By Andrew Rice
The Center Square

The Vermont legislature is looking toward legal immigration pathways to address labor shortages throughout the state.

Vermont passed a bipartisan bill in May calling for the creation of the New Americans Study Committee in order to make recommendations on a forthcoming Office of New Americans.

The committee is required to develop a summary of economic data regarding immigrants in Vermont and provide recommendations for how to improve immigrant services. The bill specifically called on the committee to study education and training institutions, professional licensing and housing support for immigrants.

Jill Martin Diaz, executive director of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, voiced support for the bill. Diaz cited workforce shortages in Vermont to support the legislature’s study.

“Immigrants are [Vermont’s] fastest growing working age demographic and vital to [Vermont’s] economy and future,” Diaz wrote in support of the bill.

Diaz also said immigrants face issues when receiving licenses, certifications, and education to pursue careers because legal pathways are not readily available.

The New Americans Study Committee began meeting in September to address these issues and is expected to release its report in 2026.

The passage of a bill to address legal pathways in Vermont builds on years of attempts to navigate the federal immigration process.

In 2024, Vermont passed a law allowing approved immigrants to obtain certain professional licenses or certifications, regardless of immigration status. Under the law, immigrants do not have to provide a Social Security number as part of a license or certification process.

“We all know the challenges of our shrinking workforce and the need to maximize our state’s economic potential by employing professionals in occupations that best align with their skills and training, regardless of their immigration status,” said Sen. Becca White, D-Windsor.

In 2012, the Vermont legislature introduced a proposal to overhaul the federal agricultural worker program in place of one that is state-based.

The “Vermont Farm Guest Worker Program” would have allowed noncitizens working on farms in Vermont to register with the state’s agricultural agency. The legislation attempted to give farm workers identification and work authorization to continue working on Vermont farms.

A 2012 survey from the University of Vermont found that 83% of respondents supported a three-year guest worker program in Vermont. However, the bill was not passed in its original form to provide work authorizations for immigrant agricultural workers.

With the prevalence of the federal H-2A program for immigrant agricultural workers across the country, a path forward to create state-based certifications for workers in Vermont does not appear feasible.

While Vermont’s guest worker program did not pass, state legislation aimed at promoting an Office of New Americans appears to be the way forward. Other states across the country have implemented similar offices aimed at educating immigrant workers and employers seeking foreign labor.

North Dakota’s Global Talent Office was established in 2023 to connect state employers with immigrant workers. The office is supported by state funds in order to connect immigrant workers to employers across North Dakota.

“North Dakota’s rural geography and smaller population base makes it harder to attract and retain skilled workers, especially in specialized sectors like healthcare, manufacturing and skilled trades,” said Kim Schmidt, communications manager for the Global Talent Office.

Vermont appears willing to join North Dakota as it seeks to engage the community with solutions through the Office of New Americans.

“[Vermont] will join roughly half the states in leveraging existing research, growing partnerships, and legislative momentum to secure Vermont’s long-term economic growth through coordinated workforce integration,” Diaz said.