In 2023, the United Kingdom led with 13,000 self-employed individuals in waste management services, followed by Germany (10,000), and Poland (9,000). Notably, only the UK, Germany, and Poland exhibited positive growth in the number of self-employed individuals. The UK saw a 5.39% increase, Germany with 2.13%, and Poland 2.38%, while other countries recorded no growth. Over the last five years, these countries experienced consistent annual growth in self-employment in this sector, reflecting increasing opportunities and possibly economic shifts to self-employment in waste management activities.
Future trends predict that digitalization and automation could impact self-employment in waste management, potentially decreasing numbers as technology streamlines processes. Moreover, environmental regulations and sustainability goals may spur demand for independent consultations in waste treatment and materials recovery, potentially increasing self-employment opportunities globally.
Top countries in Number of Self-Employed Persons in Sewerage, Waste Collection, Treatment and Disposal Activities; Materials Recovery; Remediation Activities and Other Waste Management Services by Country
| # | 10 Countries | Thousand Units (Persons) | Last Year | YoY | 5-years CAGR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 United Kingdom | 13 | 2023 | 0% | +5.39% | View data |
| 2 | 2 Germany | 10 | 2023 | 0% | +2.13% | View data |
| 3 | 3 Poland | 9 | 2023 | 0% | +2.38% | View data |
| 4 | 4 South Korea | 8 | 2023 | 0% | 0% | View data |
| 5 | 5 Italy | 6 | 2023 | 0% | 0% | View data |
| 6 | 6 Czech Republic | 2 | 2023 | 0% | 0% | View data |
| 7 | 7 Spain | 2 | 2023 | 0% | 0% | View data |
| 8 | 8 Hungary | 1 | 2023 | 0% | 0% | View data |
| 9 | 9 Netherlands | 1 | 2023 | 0% | 0% | View data |
| 10 | 10 New Zealand | 1 | 2023 | 0% | 0% | View data |
