A groundbreaking new report reveals that between 121 and 142 million people around the world are currently employed in the circular economy, contributing through sectors such as repair, recycling, second-hand trade, and waste management. This accounts for roughly 5 to 5.8 per cent of global employment outside of agriculture, according to the study released jointly by Circle Economy, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the World Bank Group, in partnership with the UN Partnership for Action on Green Economy (UN-PAGE).
The report is the first comprehensive global analysis of circular economy employment and highlights that most activity in this space is concentrated in the Global South. The Americas and Asia-Pacific lead the regions with circular employment rates of 6.4 per cent and 5.8 per cent respectively. Yet, more than half of circular economy workers—over 74 million people—operate in the informal economy, where jobs lack social protection, labour rights, stable incomes, and workplace safety standards. These workers play a crucial role in advancing sustainability, yet remain among the most vulnerable.
Titled Employment in the Circular Economy: Leveraging circularity to create decent work, the report reflects three years of collaboration aimed at equipping governments and policymakers with data and actionable tools to support a just, inclusive, and job-rich transition. The study emphasizes that while some sectors are driving innovation, for many individuals circular work is an economic necessity rather than environmental choice—underscoring the urgent need to pair investment in circularity with policies that guarantee decent work.
Repair and maintenance dominate circular employment, accounting for 46 per cent of the workforce, followed by manufacturing at 24.5 per cent and waste management at 8 per cent. Conversely, industries like construction and mining—which are critical to circular transformation—show very low participation. The report stresses the need for targeted strategies to green these sectors and significantly scale transition efforts.
The findings urge policymakers to integrate labour rights and social protections into circular economy strategies. Too often, environmental laws focus solely on emissions and climate goals without addressing the human side of the transition.
Circular economy jobs are highly labour-intensive and offer major opportunities for job creation, especially in developing countries. However, the challenge remains to ensure inclusivity. Women represent only 26 per cent of the circular workforce, and intentional policies are needed to improve their participation and access to higher-quality jobs.
The report calls for action in areas such as public procurement aligned with circular practices, investment in high-potential sectors, support for sustainable enterprises, inclusive education and skills programmes, improved occupational safety standards, expansion of social protection, and strengthening global and local data systems to better track circular progress.
While this publication represents a milestone, its authors note that significant data gaps persist, especially in recognising the contributions of informal workers and those in agriculture. Continued collaboration will be essential to design effective circular economy and social policies.
The report benefited from an international advisory board and the expertise of the five UN PAGE partner agencies: ILO, UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, and UNITAR, marking a major step forward in shaping a sustainable and equitable global economy.
