As many as 170 million new roles are set to be created and 92 million displaced, resulting in a net increase of 78 million jobs, a new report has said.
According to the Future of Jobs Report 2025, published by the World Economic Forum, job disruption will equate to 22 percent of jobs by 2030. Technological advancements, demographic shifts, geoeconomic tensions and economic pressures are the key drivers of these changes, reshaping industries and professions worldwide.
Skills gap
Drawing on data from over 1,000 companies, the report finds that the skills gap continues to be the most significant barrier to business transformation today, with nearly 40 percent of skills required on the job set to change and 63 percent of employers already citing it as the key barrier they face.
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Technology skills in AI, big data and cybersecurity are expected to see rapid growth in demand, but human skills, such as creative thinking, resilience, flexibility and agility, will remain critical. A combination of both skill types will be increasingly crucial in a fast-shifting job market.
If the global workforce were represented by a group of 100 people, 59 are projected to require reskilling or upskilling by 2030 – 11 of whom are unlikely to receive it; this translates to over 120 million workers at medium-term risk of redundancy.
Essential roles
Frontline roles and essential sectors like care and education are set for the highest job growth by 2030, while advances in AI and renewable energy are reshaping the market – driving an increase in demand for many technology or specialist roles while driving a decline for others, such as graphic designers.
“Trends such as generative AI and rapid technological shifts are upending industries and labour markets, creating both unprecedented opportunities and profound risks,” said Till Leopold, head of work, wages and job creation at the World Economic Forum. “The time is now for businesses and governments to work together, invest in skills and build an equitable and resilient global workforce.”
Booming job growth
Frontline roles, including farmworkers, delivery drivers and construction workers, are poised to see the largest job growth in absolute terms by 2030. Significant increases are also projected for care jobs, such as nursing professionals, and education roles, such as secondary school teachers, with demographic trends driving growth in demand across essential sectors. Meanwhile, advances in AI, robotics and energy systems – notably in renewable energy and environmental engineering – are expected to increase demand for specialist roles in these fields. Also, roles such as cashiers and administrative assistants remain among the fastest declining but are now joined by roles including graphic designers as generative AI rapidly reshapes the labor market.
AI and upskilling
AI is reshaping business models, with half of employers globally planning to reorient their business to target new opportunities resulting from the technology. The most common workforce response to these changes is expected to be upskilling workers, with 77 percent of employers planning to do so. However, 41 percent plan to reduce their workforce as AI automates certain tasks. Almost half of employers expect to transition staff from roles exposed to AI disruption into other parts of their business, an opportunity to alleviate skills shortages while reducing the human cost of technological transformation.
Given the rapid growth of emerging technologies, business leaders, policy makers and workers will need to work together to ensure workforces are ready while reducing risks of unemployment across sectors and geographies.
Economic shifts
The rising cost of living is another key factor driving labor market change, with half of employers expecting it to transform business models. While global inflation has eased, price pressures and slower economic growth are projected to displace six million jobs globally by 2030. These challenges are increasing demand for resilience, agility, flexibility and creative thinking skills.
Demographic shifts are reshaping labor markets, with ageing populations predominantly in higher-income countries driving demand for healthcare roles and expanding working-age populations in lower-income regions fuelling growth in education professions. Workforce strategies focused on improving talent management, teaching and mentoring skills are essential to bridging these gaps.
Geopolitical tensions are a top concern for 34 percent of businesses, while trade restrictions and industrial policy shifts transform many more, with some companies planning to adapt through offshoring and reshoring strategies. These pressures are also increasing demand for skills such as cybersecurity.
