The self-employed workforce in water supply and waste management, including environmental remediation activities, is projected to decline from 14,000 persons in 2024 to 12,000 by 2028. This represents a year-on-year decrease of approximately 7.1% from 2024 to 2025, followed by stabilization in the next couple of years with another 7.7% decline between 2026 and 2027. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the five-year period from 2024 to 2028 is expected to be negative, illustrating a consistent downward trend in self-employment within this sector.

Future Trends to Watch For:

Potential impact of increased automation and technology adoption on self-employment opportunities.
Shifts in environmental regulations which could influence demand for self-employed services.
Sustainability initiatives and their role in shaping market dynamics and new self-employment avenues.