Cities Play a Pivotal Role in Attracting Circular Economy Jobs

Local government programmes that encourage and support circular economy practices, such as repair, recycling and circular design activities help attract new investment, create jobs and result in tangible socio-economic benefits for the city and its people, reveals the report: The Role of Municipal Policy in the Circular Economy: Investment, Jobs and Social Capital in Circular Cities.

The report by Circle Economy explores the connection between municipalities pursuing circular economy policy and investments in circular business that create jobs.

In order to maximise the benefits for society of the circular economy, municipalities can employ a series of regulatory, economic and soft instruments. Municipal circular policies and strategy, targets, loans and subsidies, are conducive to generating employment.

Jobs in the Circular Economy include:

• Core circular jobs. These jobs ensure that raw material cycles are closed and thus form the core of the circular economy. They include jobs in renewable energy, repair and waste and resource management sectors.
• Enabling circular jobs. These jobs enable the acceleration and upscaling of core circular activities and they form the supporting shell of the circular economy. They include jobs in leasing, engineering and digital technology – albeit only those that actually contribute to circularity. Examples of enabling circular jobs are displayed on pages 6-7 of the Report.
• Indirectly circular jobs. All other sectors that provide services to primary circular activities and create supporting circular activities.

Read the full report “The Role of Municipality in the Circular Economy”