A recent report provides the world’s first global estimate of employment in the circular economy, revealing that 121–142 million people—or 5 to 5.8% of the global workforce—are engaged in activities such as repair, recycling, second-hand trade, and waste management. The majority of these jobs are in the Global South, with the Americas and Asia-Pacific contributing the largest shares.
Notably, more than 74 million workers, over half of those in the circular economy, are employed informally, often without adequate protection or stable incomes despite their crucial role in sustainable development.
Circular employment remains heavily concentrated in a few key sectors: repair and maintenance (46%), manufacturing (24.5%), and waste management (8%). The report emphasizes the need for stronger policies to green additional industries and to embed workers’ rights and social protections within circular economy strategies.
Produced by Circle Economy, the International Labour Organization, and the World Bank Group, with support from PAGE and guidance from an international advisory board, this study establishes a new global benchmark for measuring circular employment.
