The CBE could offer inclusive job opportunities that allow people to contribute in meaningful ways. Young people also face steep barriers. In Croatia, students in vocational schools lack pathways into decent work, while in Germany NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training) are stigmatised rather than supported. In Slovenia, socially vulnerable youth risk being pushed out of both school and work. People with disabilities and health challenges remain underrepresented in bioeconomy opportunities. In Greece’s Western Macedonia and rural Spain, limited infrastructure, lack of adapted training, and employer bias restrict their participation, despite their willingness to engage. Rural and agricultural workers also face systemic disadvantages. Small-scale farmers and forestry workers in Italy’s Campania region experience low wages and depopulation, while in Hungary entire villages are affected by energy poverty and scarce employment. In Spain, rural women over 40 have few chances for training or paid work. These communities form the backbone of regional life yet remain disproportionately excluded from opportunity. Without deliberate inclusion, the circular bioeconomy risks reproducing existing inequalities. BIOLOC demonstrates that inclusion is not an adjunct but a prerequisite: just as resources are reused in the circular model, societies must also reclaim human talent, dignity, and agency. Through the hubs, marginalised groups have gained not only access to new economic opportunities but also a renewed sense of belonging. Migrant women manage community gardens in the Netherlands, disadvantaged youth in Slovenia benefit from mentorship programmes, farmers in Campania transform waste into value, and people with disabilities in Greece produce circular products for their city. These initiatives illustrate that when inclusion is prioritised, the circular bioeconomy becomes a driver of both sustainability and social transformation. Homeless people and Roma are among the most discriminated groups. Employers exploit them and give them minimum wages for their work.
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