Closing the loop, opening up the labour market? Training, reskilling, and inclusion in Brussels circular construction sector

The circular economy (CE) is hailed as a novel model for urban development that proposes to deliver a more regenerative society by integrating economic, ecological and social objectives. The social pillar, however, tends to fall short in research and policy that prioritise innovation-focused growth agendas. Witnessing leading policy narratives frame social objectives as a matter of anticipated employment generation for low-skilled or ‘inactive’ workers, this article studies the case of Brussels (Belgium), where the sizeable and waste-intensive construction industry constitutes a prime example of contemporary struggles around labour market inclusion in the circular economy. Incremental sectoral shifts from material-extractive practices to recycling, reuse and repair work lead to changing labour demands that make training and re-skilling for emerging circular occupations essential. This article analyses the conditions under which circularity materialises in construction training and employment, thereby assessing its potential in remedying urban labour market mismatches through economic and spatial inclusion. Through qualitative research entailing interviews with organisations and ethnography-based observations with job seekers, we map circularity conceptualisations at different scales. Within the sector, circular construction remains material rather than profession-focused. Although social economy enterprises show grounded practices of social circularity through workforce integration, a lack of recognition of qualifications, persisting systemic barriers, and unclear professional pathways hinder the integration of these initiatives into formal training and employment systems. These barriers are reinforced by regional institutions, whose prevailing focus on worker activation and skill matching reduces on-the-ground efforts to achieve inclusive employment and results in partial reinforcement of exclusionary narratives within the circular economy.