A New York Times report in January 2018 provided a detailed summary of the changes in the city's economy as major manufacturing operations closed their Peterborough plants over the years. However, the report offered another perspective, from mayor Daryl Bennett, who explained that there has been a shift toward employment in smaller manufacturing plants and in service industries, leading to a moderate level of unemployment. He added that the shift away from manufacturing had started well before the NAFTA free trade agreements. The president of the Unifor union local was less optimistic. "The guy that runs a lathe or a guy that runs a C.N.C. machine or a guy that winds large motors — they’re skilled guys. But where are they going to get a job as far as government jobs in town?. they’re in their mid-40s, mid-50s and they’ve been tradesmen their whole lives." The report concluded with a comment from a local businessman who said of those who previously worked for major manufacturers, "It’s totally discouraging, I feel so badly for them. There’s just not places for those people to work. It’s crazy what’s going on here."