About
Stijn Baert is a Full-Time Professor of Empirical Labor Economics at Ghent University and a Part-Time Professor at the University of Antwerp. He leads UGent@Work, a research network of 30 professors analyzing labor market dynamics. Affiliated with institutions like Université catholique de Louvain, GLO, IMISCOE, and IZA, Baert's work bridges academic rigor with policy impact.
- Doctorate in Economics (2013), Ghent University
- Master's in Economics (2008), Ghent University
- Civil Engineering Degree (2006), Ghent University
His research focuses on labor market discrimination, unemployment consequences, and work-health intersections. He has published in European Economic Review, Health Economics, and Social Science & Medicine, with over 1,000 annual citations. Baert's policy work includes proposals for degressive unemployment benefits and sector-specific practical tests to address discrimination.
Key articles highlight AI's labor market impact, parenthood's career effects, and compressed work schedules. His awards include the Rotary Science Award (2020) and multiple recognitions for doctoral research. He is a frequent media commentator, with over 7,500 citations in national/international outlets, and a top 1% globally influential economist.
- 2020: Ranked Second Among Flemish Thought Leaders
- 2019: Included in Trends Magazine’s Top 30 Belgian Thirty-Somethings
- 2014: Charles Ullens Prize
- 2013: P&V Foundation Prize
Baert's advocacy includes evidence-based labor market reforms, participation in Flemish recovery committees, and public engagement through YouTube videos and media interviews. His work on AI in the workplace (2025) reveals that 52% of men but only 40% of women use AI, with 21% finding AI brainstorming more productive than human collaboration.
