Supporting Businesses Starts with Housing
When local workers can afford to live here, businesses can hire, grow, and thrive.
73% of surveyed employers say hiring and retaining workers has gotten harder since 2019.
2025 Eagle County Regional Housing Needs Assessment
Housing plays a vital role in the long-term health of Eagle County’s business community. When local workers can find stable housing they can afford close to their jobs, businesses are better able to attract and keep the people they depend on. That stability supports individual employers and the strength, resilience, and vibrancy of our broader local economy.
The 2025 Eagle County Regional Housing Needs Assessment makes clear how closely housing and economic vitality are connected. Employers identified the cost and availability of housing as leading hiring challenges, while the assessment estimates that 598 additional homes are needed for workers to fill approximately 1,260 unfilled jobs.
Addressing these challenges takes collaboration. Employers, housing organizations, local governments, and community members all have a role in expanding housing choices for the people who keep Eagle County working.
Housing Challenges are Workforce Challenges
Finding and keeping a strong team takes more than offering a job. Workers also need a place to live, and the cost and availability of local housing can put that opportunity out of reach.
When workers have housing options that fit their needs and budgets, businesses are better positioned to retain their teams, plan for the future, and serve the community.
The Link Between Homes and Jobs
Unfilled jobs are one part of a broader housing shortage. The assessment also identifies housing needs related to workers commuting into the area, overcrowded homes, and households living in temporary housing.
Expanding rental and ownership choices can help address these needs together, giving workers more paths to a suitable home and businesses access to the people they need.
Employers as Partners
Employers have a stake in housing solutions and a role in shaping them. In the 2024 employer survey, nearly two-thirds of respondents said they already provide housing assistance or would consider doing so.
From owning rental homes to leasing units or helping employees find housing, employers can participate in different ways. Partnerships can build on that involvement and connect businesses with more opportunities to support local housing.
What Can We Do?
Supporting housing for the local workforce is an investment in the businesses that serve our community. Deed-restricted housing can help preserve homes for locals, giving workers more options to stay rooted and businesses a stronger foundation for the future.
Employers can be part of these solutions, from purchasing eligible deed-restricted homes to rent to qualifying households to partnering through the Good Deeds Community Partner Program. Different businesses have different needs and resources, and there are multiple ways to get involved.
As Housing Eagle County grows its programs, builds partnerships, and explores funding opportunities, support from businesses and the broader community can help expand housing choices. Together, we can help local workers and businesses stay, grow, and thrive.