US Administrative and Waste Management Services Sector NAICS 56

Apr 6, 2026 - Private Sector Adds Jobs in March

• In April, payroll firm ADP issued a report indicating that US private-sector payrolls increased by 62,000 in March 2026 and pay was up 4.5% compared with March 2025. Small businesses added 85,000 positions, but medium-sized businesses lost 20,000 jobs and large establishments shed 4,000 positions. Among specific sectors, education and health services saw the biggest gain in payrolls with 58,000 new jobs, followed by construction (30,000), information (16,000), natural resources and mining (11,000), and leisure and hospitality (7,000). ADP's chief economist, Dr. Nela Richardson, said, "Overall hiring is steady, but job growth continues to favor certain industries, including health care. In March, this solid performance was accompanied by a boost in pay gains for job-changers."
• Rising jet fuel costs tied to conflict in the Middle East are driving airlines worldwide to increase fares, add fees, and cut routes, reshaping travel demand and pricing, according to The Wall Street Journal. Rising jet fuel prices prompted airline warnings of fare hikes up to 20% and new surcharges, including increases by major international carriers. Airlines are also reducing less profitable flights to offset costs. For the travel arrangement services industry, these shifts complicate pricing transparency, booking strategies, and customer expectations, as fluctuating costs, added fees, and tighter capacity make it harder to secure affordable itineraries and maintain predictable margins.

• A new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rule restricting certain non-citizen drivers from obtaining or renewing commercial driver’s licenses is expected to strain the waste management industry by reducing an already limited labor pool, according to Waste Dive. Companies such as Waste Pro say the rule could affect up to 20% of drivers in some regions, leading to service delays and operational disruptions. The industry already faces challenges in recruiting and training drivers, with hiring processes taking 60 to 75 days. Haulers warn that losing trained workers will be difficult to offset due to federal limits on driving hours and the time required to certify replacements. Industry groups and labor unions argue the rule could worsen driver shortages, disrupt collection routes, and impact essential sanitation services, while regulators say the changes are needed to improve safety and compliance.
• A growing trend known as “reverse recruiting” is emerging as white-collar job seekers pay recruiters to help them secure positions in a difficult labor market, according to The Wall Street Journal. Traditionally, companies paid recruiters to find candidates, but some job seekers now hire recruiters to connect them with employers, submit applications, or manage outreach. Services vary, with some charging a portion of a candidate’s salary after a hire, while others charge flat fees for application support. The shift comes as the job market tightens, with more unemployed workers than open roles in late 2025 and the average job search nearing six months, according to federal data. Companies such as Refer use AI tools to introduce candidates to hiring managers, while other agencies offer high-touch services that include résumé customization and direct outreach to companies. Some recruiters question the ethics and effectiveness of charging job seekers.