Exploring LinkedIn Data: Politics, Sustainability, and the Circular Economy

In 2015, all United Nations member countries adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve by 2030. This analysis focuses on how data from LinkedIn can help understand the connection between these goals, especially SDG12, which focuses on responsible consumption and production, and the circular economy. The study uses data from LinkedIn profiles, companies, job postings, and services that mention 'Sustainable Development Goals' and 'Circular Economy'. Alongside this, the SDG index for the United States is also considered, which measures the progress of sustainable communities in each state. To add another layer, data from the past five US general elections is included to see how voting behavior might influence SDG and circular economy efforts. The findings show that factors like LinkedIn-derived SDG and circular economy components can have a positive impact on related indices. Interestingly, political leanings towards the Republican or Democratic parties can have different effects on these indices. This study highlights LinkedIn's potential as a tool to evaluate SDG and circular economy positions in the US and reveals the impact of political choices on sustainability at the state level.