US Administrative and Waste Management Services Sector
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 455,718 establishments in the administrative and waste management services sector are comprised of industries that provide routine support to other organizations. The sector includes firms that provide employment services, investigative and security services, travel arrangements and reservations, waste management and remediation, services to buildings and dwellings, and business, office, and administrative support services. Firms typically operate as third-party contractors and may serve a variety of industries or individual households.
Client Industries Vulnerable to Economic Change
Demand for administrative support and waste management services is driven by the financial performance of customer industries, which can be vulnerable to downturns in the economy.
Solid Waste Tonnage and Recycling Rates Rise over Time
Waste generation has risen fairly steadily over time, and recycling and composting rates have increased as well.
Industry size & Structure
The administrative and waste management services sector is comprised of 455,718 establishments that employ 9.4 million workers and generate $1.47 trillion in annual revenue, according to government sources.
- The administrative and waste management services sector represents 3.1% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs 6.1% of the country's workers.
- The sector is fragmented with the 20 largest firms representing 20.8% of revenue.
- In addition to employer establishments, the administrative and waste management services sector has 2.6 million owner-operated establishments with no employees. Subsectors with the highest numbers of nonemployer establishments are services to dwellings (63%); office administrative services (12%); and business support services (9%). The owners of nonemployer firms typically perform the work and may outsource support functions like marketing and accounting.
- The administrative and waste management services sector has shed about 38,500 establishments annually, which equals about 10.6% of existing establishments. However, the sector has added about 42,900 new establishments annually, which is equivalent to 11.8% of existing establishments. As a result, the sector has an average growth rate of 1.2%.
Industry Forecast
US Administrative and Waste Management Services Sector Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Apr 3, 2025 - ADP Reports Steady Job Growth in March
- A recent jobs report suggests demand for employment services remains robust. In April, payroll firm ADP issued a report indicating that US private sector payrolls increased by 155,000 in March 2025. Job gains in March were led by 132,000 new service-providing jobs, including professional and business services (57,000 new jobs), financial (38,000), leisure and hospitality (17,000), and education and health services (12,000). March also saw an addition of 24,000 new manufacturing jobs. Large establishments led payroll growth in March with 59,000 new jobs, followed by small establishments (52,000), and medium establishments (43,000). ADP’s chief economist said the labor market was holding up despite wavering consumer sentiment and policy uncertainty.
- US average shift work volume increased by 2.3% in March compared to the prior month, according to data compiled by HR solutions firm UKG. March marked the second time shift work has grown for two consecutive months since June 2024. All major industry sectors tracked by UKG saw shift work rise in March. Energy enjoyed the most significant gain with growth of 4.4%, followed by financial services (+3.6%), state and municipal agencies (+3.1%); healthcare (+2.6%); manufacturing (+2.6%); retail, food services, and hospitality (+1.9%), life sciences (+1.7%), and services and distribution (+1.6%). While shift work growth remained solid, UKG said immigration policy, inflation, and tariffs pose ongoing challenges for organizations.
- The Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce is leaving some civil servants looking for work in a challenging market for white-collar jobs, according to The Wall Street Journal. Employment services professionals suggest that some ousted federal workers may not have the skills corporate leaders seek, and some might face age discrimination as the federal workforce skews older than the national average. The Office of Personnel Management offered buyouts to about 2.3 million federal employees in early February. As of mid-February, about 65,000 accepted the buyout, which allows them to continue to be paid until September without working. Employment services insiders note that the state and local government jobs market remains robust, but the duties for those positions often occur outside an office.
- Some waste and recycling trade groups have expressed concern that the Trump administration’s tariff strategy could affect recyclable commodities markets and increase operating costs, including crucial equipment and parts, according to Waste Dive. On March 4, Trump placed 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and increased the tariff on all Chinese imports to 20%. Two days later, the Mexico and Canada tariffs were postponed for 30 days for products that comply with the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). On March 12, the Trump administration levied a 25% tax on all steel and aluminum imports. On April 2, Trump imposed widespread “reciprocal” tariffs on dozens of countries. In addition to raising the total levy on Chinese goods to 34%, the reciprocal tariffs increased taxes on imports from key trading partners including the European Union (20%), South Korea (25%), Japan (24%), and Taiwan (32%). The National Waste & Recycling Association and the Recycled Materials Association voiced concerns about the threat of tariffs, including higher costs, lower job creation, supply chain disruption, and reduced infrastructure investment. Waste and recycling trade groups also worry that tariffs could impact manufacturing industries that use recycled materials as key inputs.
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