The purpose of this study is to explore innovative vocational training strategies in response to carbon neutrality, with a particular focus on middle-aged workers. To achieve this, the carbon neutrality challenges faced by specific regions (Gangwon, Chungnam, Jeonnam, and Jeju) were analyzed, and key implementation cases related to carbon neutrality (e.g., plastic recycling plants, liquid hydrogen plants) were reviewed. In addition, in-depth interviews and Focus Group Interviews (FGI) were conducted with personnel from Carbon Neutral Support Centers, middle-aged training institutions, and Industrial Skills Councils (ISCs), resulting in innovative vocational training strategies for addressing carbon neutrality.
The analysis identified three major areas: 1) strengthening governance related to carbon neutrality, 2) enhancing carbon-neutral-specific training for middle-aged workers, and 3) supporting the participation of middle-aged trainees in carbon-neutral vocational training. For each area, four specific strategies were developed, totaling 12. An AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) survey was conducted with experts in the field, and the results ranked the strategies as follows: the top priority was ‘establishing government policies and roadmaps for carbon neutrality,’ followed by ‘developing support plans linked to regional specialized industries for carbon-neutral fields,’ and in third place, ‘building support systems to promote ESG management for SMEs.’ The top five recommendations are detailed further in the study.