Between 121 and 142 million people worldwide are engaged in jobs directly related to the circular economy. These activities include repair, recycling, waste management, and second-hand commerce, and represent between 5% and 5.8% of global employment outside agriculture. This data comes from a report published in Geneva by the ILO and the World Bank, in partnership with UN-PAGE, based on a study conducted by Circle Economy.
The analysis shows that the largest share of circular jobs is found in developing countries, with the Americas and Asia-Pacific leading, reporting 6.4% and 5.8% of circular employment, respectively.
Over 74 million workers are employed in informal economy activities. They neither benefit from regulation nor social protection, putting them at significant risk. Nevertheless, they play a crucial role in waste reduction, material recycling, and environmental protection.
According to the authors of the report titled “Jobs in the Circular Economy: Leveraging Circularity to Create Decent Work,” the goal is to provide governments and public institutions with a solid information base to support a just transition that creates jobs and aligns with sustainability objectives.
Sectors related to repair and maintenance account for nearly 46% of jobs, followed by manufacturing (24.5%) and waste management (8%). In contrast, construction and mining remain underengaged, necessitating targeted policies to integrate more circular practices.
Experts associated with the report emphasize that these jobs are highly labor-intensive and serve as sources of local activity. Women represent 26% of these jobs. The recommendations focus on supporting responsible businesses, making appropriate investments, strengthening vocational education, and upholding social standards.
This is the very first comprehensive analysis dedicated to circular employment. It highlights significant needs for additional data to refine public policies and accelerate a sustainable and inclusive transition.