The U.S. janitorial service market is expected to reach US$100.22 billion by 2033 from $76.68 billion in 2024, according to a recent Research and Markets report.

The market’s growth can be attributed to factors such as growing consciousness about importance of cleanliness and hygiene in workspaces and increasing significance of preventive healthy practices. Growing demand from the commercial, healthcare, educational, and industrial sectors is also driving steady expansion.

Businesses are also implementing cutting-edge technology and environmentally friendly cleaning methods to meet sustainability targets and boost customer satisfaction. With a combination of big national suppliers and smaller regional companies offering specialized solutions, the market is competitive.

Additionally, massive retail corporations have recognized the ongoing need for cleanliness and sanitation following the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, premium merchants are adopting carpet washing and janitorial cleaning at an 84% rate. Similarly, janitorial services are becoming more popular among big-box shops, grocery stores, restaurants, and healthcare organizations.

Still, the janitorial services sector is plagued by a chronic labor shortage and significant staff turnover. Employee discontent and low retention may result from the physically taxing, repetitious, and frequently off-hours nature of employment. Further, it is challenging to draw in long-term talent because many janitorial positions pay little and provide few possibilities for professional progression.

Because of this, businesses find it difficult to keep steady worker numbers, particularly during busy times or while expanding. Customer happiness and service quality are also impacted by this. Employers are under growing pressure to provide better working conditions, better benefits, and greater compensation to stay competitive, the study found. However, these initiatives might lower profit margins and increase operating expenses, especially in a labor-intensive and price-sensitive sector.

Moreover, many small and medium-sized businesses are fighting for contracts in the fragmented U.S. janitorial services sector. Because of the intense downward pressure this saturation puts on service prices, businesses find it challenging to maintain reasonable profit margins.

Running on thin margins makes it difficult to reinvest in quality enhancements, technology, or employee training. In an effort to stand out, suppliers try to set themselves apart through technology integration, customer service, or sustainability policies.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) opened the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) v5 for registration—the newest version of its flagship green building program. The new rating system focuses on three main pillars—decarbonization, quality of life, and ecological conservation and restoration—with decarbonization accounting for half of the total points available toward certification.

On Aug. 19, the USGBC announced the first projects to achieve certification under LEED v5. In studies from the U.S. General Services Administration, LEED buildings have been proven to use less energy and reduce utility costs.

According to the UN Environment Programme, the built environment accounts for approximately 40% of all global carbon emissions, with building operations responsible for 27% of those emissions. Because nearly two-thirds of buildings that will be in use in 2040 already exist today, it is critical to ensure that both new construction and existing buildings embark on a path toward decarbonization.

Certification will be available for all LEED v5 for Operations and Maintenance projects this fall. Certification for LEED v5 for Building Design and Construction will become available later this year.

To read the list of those who have achieved Platinum LEED v5 level certification, click here.