Market Needs for a Circular Transition: Implemented Practices and Required Skills

The circular economy (CE) transition demands a paradigm shift in manufacturing processes. In particular, there is a growing demand for skills associated with developing circular business models and exploring innovative solutions derived from emerging digital technologies. The CE job market is highly heterogeneous, with individuals from different educational backgrounds who can work in numerous sectors.

However, to date, the literature has offered few insights regarding the skills required for CE applied in manufacturing, especially in industrial sectors considered critical to advance CE initiatives, such as Textiles, Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), and Automotive.

Therefore, the report explores, from a practitioner’s point of view, the current needs and already-in-place actions to align the skills and job profiles required for the circular transition in the textile, WEEE, and automotive sectors.

Date of original publication: 07/09/2024

Authors: Acerbi, F. Hofmann Trevisan, A. Vitti, M. et al.