Allan Gerlat, News Editor

September 9, 2014

1 Min Read
Waste, Recycling Industry Employment Grows to New Record in August

Employment in the waste and recycling industry grew by 300 jobs, reaching a new workforce record of 382,500 employees, according to the latest government statistics.

The August employment increase reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) marked the seventh consecutive monthly increase by the waste and recycling industry, after adjusting for seasonal factors.

“The waste and recycling industry continues to benefit from stable economic conditions,” said Bret Biggers, director, statistics and standards for the National Waste & Recycling Association (NW&RA), in a news release.

The BLS revised downward July’s employment number for North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 562 – the waste management and remediation services category – to 382,200. The revised job gain for July was 900 jobs. 

 The waste and recycling industry’s unemployment rate remained near seven-year lows in August. Its unemployment rate in August was half the rate from a year ago – 4.4 percent compared with 9.4 percent. The numbers do not reflect industry layoffs announced in August.

The U.S. unemployment rate fell slightly to 6.1 percent, down from 7.2 percent a year earlier.

About the Author(s)

Allan Gerlat

News Editor, Waste360

Allan Gerlat joined the Waste360 staff in September 2011 as news editor. He was the editor of Waste & Recycling News for the first 16 years of its history, and under his guidance the publication won 27 national and regional awards.

Before Waste & Recycling News, Allan worked at another Crain Communications publication, Rubber & Plastics News, which covers rubber product manufacturing. He began with the publication as associate editor and eventually became managing editor, a position he held for nine years.

Allan is a graduate of Ohio University, where he earned a BS in journalism. He is based in Sagamore Hills, in northeast Ohio.

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