US Administrative and Waste Management Services Sector NAICS 56

Oct 4, 2025 - Office Vacancies Remain Elevated

• In August, the US office vacancy rate was 18.7%, down 80 basis points compared to a year earlier, according to a September report by real estate software firm Yardi Matrix. Remote work continues to put downward pressure on demand for office space, especially in central business districts. Two-thirds of companies provide some level of work-from-home or hybrid office attendance policy, according to flexible work data firm Flex Index. Low vacancy is also reducing property valuations. In the first eight months of 2025, office property sales averaged $190 per square foot. While that's a slight improvement over 2024, it's far below the average of $277 per square foot in 2019 before the pandemic. Weak office occupancy can put downward pressure on demand for several types of building services, including janitorial, facilities support, office administration, security, and landscaping.
• Tech recruiters and job seekers face a paradox: despite a surge in computer-science graduates and widespread layoffs, companies can’t fill highly prized AI roles, according to The Wall Street Journal. Recruiters are inundated with applicants—some postings draw 2,000 resumes per week, yet few possess the machine-learning mastery to tune complex models. Fierce competition has driven base salaries for AI engineers and managers into the high six figures, with top applicants commanding up to $1 million and recruiters willing to wait months for a single hire. Meanwhile, candidates with strong but non-AI backgrounds struggle to break in, as firms cling to unicorn profiles and overlook transferable talent. This hyper-specialization prolongs vacant listings and pressures recruiting teams to refine sourcing strategies, prioritize portfolio vetting, and advocate on-the-job training to expand the narrow AI talent pipeline.

• Speakers at a recent conference of the Pennsylvania chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) emphasized that well-designed, audience-specific recycling systems are key to boosting participation and reducing contamination, according to Waste Dive. Tailoring programs to local realities—such as income levels, housing types, and waste stream composition—can improve outcomes, especially in multifamily buildings where bin placement and sizing often hinder recycling. Convenience centers with intuitive layouts and engineered bin designs help residents sort materials correctly. Landfill operators are urged to adopt creative diversion strategies to recover valuable recyclables and extend landfill lifespans.
• AI is reducing entry-level job opportunities for some workers, especially young people, according to The Wall Street Journal. New research by economists at Stanford University suggests generative AI tools are reducing demand for certain types of entry-level positions. The study found that AI is having the most significant impact on jobs that are increasingly easy to automate, including entry-level positions in software coding, customer service, translation services, and receptionists. Employment for software developers ages 22 to 25 fell 20% between the 2022 peak and July 2025. The researchers found that the labor market effects of AI weren’t all adverse. Employment improved for job descriptions that can be augmented by AI rather than replaced. However, the augmentation effect was not enough to offset the reduction in employment in roles that can be automated with AI.