At Burlington Bagel Bakery, a sign in the window advertises wages starting at $25 an hour. Cabot Creamery is bringing workers from out of state to package its signature blocks of Cheddar cheese. More than a fifth of Vermonters are 65 or older, and more than 35 percent are over 54, the age at which Americans typically begin to exit the work force. Vermont offers an early look at where the rest of the country could be headed. The baby boom population is aging out of the work force, and subsequent generations aren’t large enough to fully replace it.

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Organizations: Champlain, Burlington Bagel, Central Vermont Medical Center Locations: Burlington, Cabot, Vermont