‘Future of Jobs Report 2025’ highlights significant job disruption and reskilling challenges coming up

GENEVA Jan 9: The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released a report titled ‘Future of Jobs Report 2025‘, which indicates that job disruption will impact 22 per cent of jobs globally by 2030. The report suggests that while 170 million new jobs will be created, 92 million jobs will be displaced, resulting in a net increase of 78 million jobs by 2030.

Based on data from over 1,000 companies, the report identifies skill gaps as the most significant hurdle for business transformation. It is projected that nearly 40 per cent of the skills required for current jobs will change by 2030, and 63 per cent of employers have cited the proper skillset as a key barrier to growth.

According to the report, out of every 100 workers in the global workforce, 59 are projected to require reskilling or upskilling by 2030. However, 11 workers out of this group are unlikely to receive the necessary training, indicating that over 120 million workers are at medium-term risk of redundancy.

The WEF’s analysis suggests that demand for technology skills, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data, and cybersecurity, will experience rapid growth. Nevertheless, human skills like creative thinking, resilience, flexibility, and agility will remain critical. Individuals possessing a combination of both skill types will be increasingly crucial in the fast-paced job market.

As advances in AI and renewable energy continue to drive market changes, the report indicates that frontline roles and essential sectors, like care and education, will see the highest job growth by 2030.

Till Leopold, Head of Work, Wages and Job Creation at the World Economic Forum says “Trends such as generative AI and rapid technological shifts are upending industries and labour markets, creating both unprecedented opportunities and profound risks,”

Leopold added “The time is now for businesses and governments to work together, invest in skills and build an equitable and resilient global workforce.”

The report said frontline roles, including farmworkers, delivery drivers and construction workers, will be more in demand and poised to see the largest job growth in absolute terms by 2030. Significant increases are also projected for care jobs, like nursing professionals, and education specialists, 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.

However, roles like cashiers and administrative assistants will come under the fastest declining sector but are now joined by roles including graphic designers as generative AI rapidly reshapes the labour market.

With half of the employers globally are planning to reorient their businesses to target new opportunities, AI is reshaping their business models. While 77 per cent employers are planning to upskill their workers, 41 per cent are planning to reduce their workforce as AI automates certain tasks

The WEF report said urgent and collective action are required across government, businesses and education to bridge skills gaps, invest in reskilling and upskilling initiatives and create accessible pathways into fast-growing jobs and skills that are seeing fast growth in demand

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025, taking place in Davos-Klosters from 20 to 24 January, convenes global leaders under the theme, Collaboration for the Intelligent Age.