Rogers, Heather A.Deutz, PaulineRamos, Tomas B.Jonas, Andrew E.G.2025-02-132025-02-132024-062730-597XPURE: 106499992PURE UUID: 274df1a6-772f-4edc-b18f-e9b6ae7498dcScopus: 85182215412http://hdl.handle.net/10362/178983Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.Establishing a circular economy is assumed by some definitions to include social benefits such as employment opportunities; however, research beyond quantitative job creation projections is only recently emerging. While the repair sector is well-established, it has been suggested that increasing circularity implies significantly expanded demand for this service. This article uses five case studies of repair workers, based on semi-structured interviews, to explore self-employment in the repair service sector. Findings indicate that the stresses of work in the circular economy are similar to those of other fields, with self-employment offering opportunities both for job satisfaction and additional pressures. Research needs to give more consideration to the social implications of a circular transition—work may be a necessity for a satisfactory life experience (for most people), but it is under-ambitious to assume that having work is sufficient to achieve that, or should be the limit of ambition for a sustainability transition.18523776engCircular economyQuality of working lifeRepairSelf-employmentSocial sustainabilityGeneral Environmental ScienceRenewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentSDG 7 - Affordable and Clean EnergySDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic GrowthSDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Productionjournal article10.1007/s43615-023-00343-5https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85182215412