Workforce Competencies for Circular Economy Transitions: Evidence from India’s Waste Sector

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Research Scholar, Amity Business School, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh

2 Professor, Amity Business School, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh

3 Professor, GNIOT Institute of Management Studies, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

The transition to a circular economy is essential for addressing environmental challenges and resource scarcity, yet workforce capabilities required for its adoption, particularly in developing economies, remain underexplored. This study examines the role of three key competencies: green skills, systems thinking, and digital literacy in shaping circular economy readiness and the implementation of circular practices in India’s urban waste management sector, a critical context due to high waste generation and resource inefficiencies. Using a novel Skills Framework for Circular Economy Transition, integrating cognitive, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and technological dimensions of workforce competencies, data were collected from 100 professionals in the Delhi National Capital Region. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) assessed the influence of these competencies on readiness and practice adoption. Results show that green skills have the strongest impact on readiness, followed by systems thinking and digital literacy, with readiness mediating the translation of these competencies into actionable circular practices. These findings provide practical guidance for policymakers, municipal authorities, and educational institutions to strengthen workforce capabilities, accelerate circular practice adoption, and offer a validated framework for future research in emerging economies.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Interdisciplinary Journal of Management Studies
Volume 19, Issue 3
July 2026
Pages 627-652

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