The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has unveiled an interactive online tool to highlight the number of jobs that could be created by a circular economy in each Parliamentary constituency.

The tool states the unemployment rate for each constituency, the current amount of circular economy jobs and the amount of jobs that could be created by 2030.

The launch of the tool accompanies a one-week exhibition that started yesterday (10 February) at the Palace of Westminster, designed to educate the public on the potential of circular employment.

According to WRAP, the UK is recycling more and producing less waste which is having a ‘direct impact on employment in the circular economy.’ They believe the creation of new CE jobs could be worth up to £100 billion to the UK by 2030.

517,000 new jobs across Britain

The exhibition is based on the report ‘Employment and the Circular Economy – Job creation in a more resource efficient Britain,’ which was produced by WRAP in association with Green Alliance, an independent environmental think tank.

According to the report, up to 517,000 jobs could be created across Britain if a transformative approach was taken and significant funding was invested in developing a more circular economy. Even if no change took place, it is estimated that a minimum of 31,000 CE jobs could be created.

Different regions show different potential according to WRAP figures, with the potential for job creation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland being 17,100, 11,600 and 5,300 respectively.

The report estimates that 171,300 jobs could be created in England, with 15,800 of these in London alone. The English regions showing the highest potential are the South East (25,500 jobs) and the North West (25,500 jobs).

This constituency-based data follows on from previous WRAP reports produced last year, which focused on London and Europe.

According to these reports, if ‘transformative’ approaches were taken, the circular economy could create more than 40,000 new jobs in London, which would reduce net unemployment by 12,000.

The European study predicted three million circular economy jobs could be created across the EU member states by 2030 reducing unemployment by over half a million.

WRAP ‘drilling right down to the constituencies’

Commenting on the tool and exhibition, Liz Goodwin, the outgoing CEO of WRAP, said: “WRAP has shown the jobs potential for continent, country and capital. But now we’re drilling right down to the Constituencies – delivering indicative figures for MPs and their constituencies.

“Boosting the economy, providing jobs and protecting the environment are key issues for any government. However, the circular economy could offer real benefits in all three areas, and promises to turn these issues into opportunities”.

To find out how many jobs WRAP estimates could be created in your constituency, see the interactive tool on WRAP’s website.