South Dakota – Waste Industry Employee Shortage Crisis

Community Recycling News

It’s no secret that businesses across the country are struggling to find workers. The solid waste industry is no exception. With South Dakota experiencing an employee shortage even before the pandemic began, we have been in a tough spot here at Millennium with employees and we’ve heard the same from the majority of waste haulers.

SWANA recently released a paper that provides some suggestions for how local companies can address the situation including:
  • Promote industry jobs as providing recession-resistant, long-term career opportunities.
  • Renegotiate contracts to reflect wage increases or reductions in service levels.
  • Utilize automated collection trucks where feasible to reduce workforce helper demands and improve worker safety.
Keloland also recommends:
  • Hiring teenagers and allowing flexibility.
  • Utilizing tools on South Dakota Works, the state’s online job posting site.
  • Listing the wage on your job posting.

See Millennium’s open jobs here.