Hazardous Waste Management Specialists

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that employment of hazardous materials removal workers will grow more slowly than the average for all careers from 2023 through 2033. "Employment growth will be driven by the need to safely remove and clean up hazardous materials at sites recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency," according to the DOL.

Job opportunities for hazardous removal workers who are employed by management, scientific, and technical consulting services firms are expected to grow by nearly 13.3 percent from 2023 through 2033. Employment for specialists who work for scientific research and development services is expected to increase by 11.1 percent during this time span. Both predictions represent growth that is much faster than the average for all careers.

Those with advanced degrees, specific technical skills and knowledge, and success in past cleanup and remediation projects will have the best opportunities to find work. As with some other highly skilled environmental professions, high-level hazardous waste management is currently suffering from a lack of qualified professionals. The sheer enormity of the hazardous waste problem, with at least 40,000 known sites and more expected to be identified in the near future, ensures that there will be cleanup jobs available as long as funding is available.

Employment growth will also stem from increased pressure for cleaner electric generation facilities and the need for specialists to study and address the pollution created by fracking of natural gas deposits (a study by the journal Human and Ecological Risk Assessment found that 632 chemicals are used in natural gas fracking operations, and some of these chemicals are dangerous to human health). Remediation workers may also be needed for the reactivation of nuclear power facilities.

In the years to come, the trend in the hazardous waste management industry will move from a focus on waste removal, neutralization, and disposal, to a mission that revolves around waste prevention. Keeping track of trends in the field while still in school will enable you to tailor your course work to the anticipated needs of the future job market.