Dive Brief:
- According to data compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in the waste and recycling industry hit a new record in September.
- The report finds that 900 jobs were added to the industry in September, bringing the total employment numbers to 382,700.
- This is the eight month in a row that jobs in waste and recycling have grown; the National Waste & Recycling Association (NW&RA) reports that 8,100 positions have been filled since the beginning of 2014.
Dive Insight:
Bret Biggers, the director of statistics and standards for the NW&RA, said that job growth has been steady in the industry for years and that “the growth in jobs follows general economic growth and consumer spending trends.”
In September, the unemployment rate within the industry fell to 3.1%. This figure is down from 6.7% just one year ago. Last month, the BLS released its August numbers; the waste and recycling field gained 300 jobs at that time, bringing the total number of workers employed to 382,500 in August.
