This article analyses over 10 000 SMEs in Europe and – while heterogeneity was observed among different EU Member States in the adoption of circular economy (CE) practices – the number of workers employed in green jobs is correlated to uptake of CE actions. Perceiving the need for extra environmental skills has a positive effect on the intention to implement actions in the future. Other characteristics of the enterprises have a significant impact on resource efficiency: in general, older and bigger firms, with larger yearly turnover, are more prone to implementing actions. The analysis of the determinants of green behaviour by European SMEs was completed by a study of heterogeneity across firms and within countries with a multilevel latent class model, a hierarchical clustering method. Previous research has shown there are differences in resource-efficiency practices adopted both within and between EU Member States.

For cities and regions to feel confident implementing Circular Systemic Solutions (CSS), skilled workers in environmental jobs are important. A connection between the number of workers employed in green jobs and the uptake of CE actions was found. Therefore, acquisition and dissemination of environmental skills can be used to catalyse the uptake of resource-efficiency actions to achieve CSS.