Practical Dilemmas and Optimization Paths of Digital Employee Management for SMEs Under the Wave of Low-Carbon Transition

Abstract

Against the backdrop of advancing “dual-carbon” goals and the digital economy’s deep penetration into industries, SMEs face dual pressures from green low-carbon transition and digital management reform. As a core driver of strategic delivery and organizational efficiency, the quality of digital transformation in employee management directly shapes low-carbon strategy execution outcomes, acting as a critical link between digital innovation and green production. From the coupled dual transformation perspective, this paper defines the core meanings of low-carbon transition and digital employee management, and clarifies their internal synergies. Given SMEs’ inherent limits—tight resources, weak management foundations, and talent shortages—it examines key practical hurdles in digital employee management, and proposes a multi-dimensional optimization framework covering strategy restructuring, capacity building, institutional innovation, digital enablement, and cultural development. The findings provide theoretical support and practical references for SMEs to deepen the integration of digital governance and low-carbon growth.