Socio-economic impacts of green hydrogen on Australia’s circular economy: a study of job creation, regional fairness and public acceptance

Purpose This study aims to investigate the socio-economic impacts of green hydrogen development within Australia’s circular economy, with a focus on workforce transformation, regional fairness and public acceptance. The research explores how inclusive governance, stakeholder engagement and education can enhance the legitimacy and effectiveness of hydrogen transitions. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a qualitative research design incorporating a thematic analysis of 55 peer-reviewed articles and semi-structured interviews with five stakeholders across government, industry, academia and civil society. It is theoretically underpinned by Sustainability Transition Theory and the Energy Justice Framework, enabling a moderated-mediation conceptual model. Findings The analysis identifies green hydrogen as a socio-technical catalyst for regional employment and circular innovation. However, significant disparities persist in infrastructure investment and community participation, particularly among Indigenous and remote populations. Stakeholder engagement emerges as a mediating force enabling procedural fairness and community legitimacy, while government policy and education moderate the equitable distribution of benefits. Public acceptance is strongly linked to trust, transparency and perceived local value. Originality/value This study contributes to the hydrogen transition discourse by operationalizing energy justice principles within a circular economy framework. It advances theoretical understanding through a moderated-mediation model and offers actionable policy insights for equitable, inclusive hydrogen development. The findings are particularly valuable for policymakers, regional planners and sustainability practitioners aiming to align decarbonization efforts with social and spatial equity.