This study delivers the first global evidence-based assessment of employment embedded in the e-waste value chain. By quantifying both direct and indirect jobs, and disaggregating them by activity, region, countries by their income level, and job characteristics, it provides a foundation for designing policies that harness the socio-economic potential of e-waste while addressing informality and environmental risks.
This report provides the first global estimate of employment embedded in circular economy trade, analysing how exports of recyclable, reusable and remanufactured goods generate both direct and indirect jobs across global value chains. It highlights the sectoral and regional distribution of nearly six million jobs linked to circular trade, with a focus on informality, skills, gender and the implications for a just transition to a greener economy.
