Occupational Changes for Middle-aged Workers in the Carbon Neutral Era: "Need for Concrete Job Training and Stronger Collaborative Governance"

Inevitable Job Changes Due to Carbon-Neutral Industrial Restructuring
Middle-aged and Older Workers Most Affected by Shifts in Occupational Groups

A report has found that, due to changes in industrial structures for carbon neutrality, it is inevitable that middle-aged and older workers will experience shifts in their occupational groups, making job training for this demographic necessary. The report also argues that the government, local governments, and industries should strengthen collaborative governance, establish systematic policy directions, and provide tailored support.

On May 22, the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training, a government-funded research institute under the Prime Minister's Office, recently released a report titled "Innovative Measures for Job Training for Middle-aged and Older Workers in Response to Carbon Neutrality," which contains these findings.

An office worker is commuting at the Sejongno intersection in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

The report states that, in response to abnormal climate events, not only the international community but also South Korea is striving for carbon-neutral green growth. Six countries?including Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, and Denmark?have legally established carbon neutrality, and major countries such as the European Union, China, and Japan have also declared carbon neutrality goals. South Korea enacted the "Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth for Coping with Climate Crisis" in 2021.

In this process, the occupational groups of middle-aged and older workers could undergo significant changes. Changes in industrial structures for carbon neutrality may make it unavoidable for existing workers to change or transfer jobs, and the report notes that a significant proportion of those who will experience occupational changes are likely to be middle-aged and older workers. The report also emphasizes the importance of specifying the direction for job training for this demographic.

Based on expert in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, three innovative measures for job training in response to carbon neutrality were identified: strengthening governance functions related to carbon neutrality; advancing carbon-neutrality-specialized training for middle-aged and older workers; and supporting participation of middle-aged and older trainees in training for the carbon neutrality sector.

The detailed measures are as follows: 1st priority: Establishing government policy directions and roadmaps related to carbon neutrality; 2nd priority: Developing support measures for the carbon neutrality sector linked to specialized industries in each local government; 3rd priority: Building support systems to promote sustainable management for small and medium-sized enterprises; 4th priority: Establishing close cooperation systems with related organizations and industries; and 5th priority: Developing and operating carbon-neutrality-specialized training linked to qualification acquisition.

Jung Eun-jin, research fellow, and Park Sang-oh, senior researcher at the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training, who conducted this study, emphasized, "Above all, it is important to strengthen collaborative governance functions related to carbon neutrality in order to innovate job training in response to carbon neutrality."