Labor Market Transformation Under Green Transition: Belgian Experiences and Insights

This article deeply analyzes the structural changes in Belgium's labor market during climate transition, reveals the profound impact of green economic transformation on employment patterns, skill demands, and vocational training systems, and puts forward policy recommendations for achieving a just transition, providing references for other countries (such as China).

Global climate change is a severe challenge in the 21st century. Countries' promotion of carbon neutrality goals has triggered economic and social changes. Belgium has set a 2050 carbon neutrality target, which will lead to fundamental changes in its economic structure and affect the labor market: traditional industries will shrink, while green industries will create new jobs. Managing this transition is crucial for social equity, political stability, and sustainable development.

Impact on High-Carbon Industries: Energy (phasing out coal and nuclear power, job mismatch in renewable energy), manufacturing (technological upgrading in heavy industry eliminating backward production capacity), transportation (popularization of electric vehicles reducing traditional jobs). Opportunities in Green Industries: Renewable energy (industrial chains like offshore wind power), circular economy (multi-level jobs such as waste management), green buildings (demand for retrofitting existing stock), environmental services (professional services like carbon accounting).

Emerging Green Skills: Growing demand for clean energy technology, environmental management and assessment, circular economy, digital skills, and interdisciplinary integration capabilities. Upgrading of Traditional Skills: Traditional skills in construction (integration of energy-saving technologies), manufacturing (clean production skills), agriculture (sustainable practices), and finance (green finance capabilities) need to be combined with green concepts.

Transformation of Formal Education: Vocational education updates curricula (e.g., green technology) and promotes school-enterprise cooperation; higher education adds green majors and interdisciplinary programs; strengthens STEM education. Lifelong Learning: Adult training programs (government-employer cooperation), micro-credentials/modular courses, online learning platforms. Reskilling and Upskilling for Job Transitions: Advance planning, personalized paths, integration of training with employment services.

Labor Market Policies: Employment security mechanisms, regional development strategies, tripartite social dialogue. Skill Planning: Labor market intelligence systems, industry skill standards, learning from international experiences. Just Transition: Focus on vulnerable groups, gender equality, intergenerational equity.

When promoting the dual carbon goals, China should:

1. Plan in advance, integrate labor market transformation, and establish an employment impact assessment mechanism;
2. Strengthen industry-education integration and school-enterprise cooperation to align with industrial needs;
3. Pay attention to resource-based/old industrial bases to avoid regional imbalances;
4. Improve the social security and employment service system.

Climate transition has profoundly changed Belgium's employment patterns and skill demands, bringing both challenges and opportunities. A just and orderly transition needs to be achieved through proactive policies, flexible education and training, and effective social dialogue. Belgium's experiences provide references for the world, and we look forward to international cooperation to explore a sustainable and just future.