Waste Industry Achieves Record Employment in Summer 2014
Industry trade group attributes growth to American consumer demand, evolving waste stream
WASHINGTON, August 8, 2014 /3BL Media/ — Employment for the waste management and remediation services industry has reached a record high, according to new statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
BLS announced employment of 382,500 workers in the waste industry for July 2014, an increase of 1,200 employees (0.3 percent) from June’s numbers.
“The BLS data reflect a general improvement in current economic conditions as well as seasonal factors impacting the industry,” said Sharon H. Kneiss, president and CEO of the National Waste & Recycling Association. “Technological advances in materials, materials handling and consumer behavior patterns continue to influence waste-handling methods, creating efficiencies and innovation within the industry.”
Waste industry employment trends have mirrored national trends this year. Nationally, 209,000 jobs were added last month—the second consecutive month with an increase of 200,000 or more. The U.S. unemployment rate now hovers just above 6 percent; the waste industry’s unemployment rate was 3.2 percent in July—near a seven-year low.
The waste management and remediation services category (NAICS 562) includes: solid waste collection; hazardous waste collection; other waste collection; hazardous waste treatment and disposal; solid waste landfill; solid waste combustors and incinerators; other nonhazardous waste treatment and disposal; remediation services; materials recovery facilities; and all other waste management services.
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The National Waste & Recycling Association is the trade association that represents the private sector waste and recycling services industry. Association members conduct business in all 50 states and include companies that collect and manage garbage, recycling and medical waste, equipment manufacturers and distributors and a variety of other service providers. For more information about how innovation in the environmental services industry is helping to solve today’s environmental challenges, visit www.beginwiththebin.org.
