Zarah ChoudharyBy 2030, nearly 60% of the global workforce will require upskilling or reskilling to adapt to the changing demands of the job market, according to the World Economic Forum’s ‘Future of Jobs Report 2025’.
The report highlighted the transformative impact of digital technologies, economic shifts, demographic trends, and climate action, which are reshaping industries and the nature of work.
Employers expected job creation and destruction resulting from structural changes to account for 22% of current jobs, with 14% of today’s total employment representing new opportunities, offset by the displacement of 8% of existing roles.
Broadening digital access was identified as the most transformative trend, with 60% of businesses expecting it to reshape their operations.
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI), big data, robotics, and automation are driving demand for technology-related roles, including AI specialists, big data analysts, and cybersecurity professionals.
Conversely, jobs in clerical and administrative fields, such as bank tellers, data entry clerks, and cashiers, are among those predicted to decline most significantly.
The rising cost of living was another key trend, with half of employers expecting it to impact their businesses by 2030.
While inflation was predicted to moderate, economic uncertainty and slower growth were expected to displace 1.6 million jobs globally.
These economic challenges are driving demand for skills such as resilience, flexibility, agility, and creative thinking.
Climate change was also found to be shaping the future of work, as efforts to mitigate its effects and adapt to its consequences are creating demand for green economy roles.
Jobs such as renewable energy engineers, environmental engineers, and specialists in autonomous and electric vehicles rank among the fastest-growing professions.
Climate-related skills also entered the list of top 10 fastest-growing competencies, reflecting the increased focus on environmental stewardship across industries.
Demographic shifts were found to be further influencing labour markets, with aging populations in higher-income economies driving growth in healthcare jobs such as nursing and personal care.
In lower-income economies, expanding working-age populations are fuelling demand for education professionals, including higher education teachers and mentors.
These trends were increasing the need for skills in talent management, teaching, and self-awareness.
Geopolitical and geoeconomic trends prompted businesses to transform their models, with 34% of employers citing these factors as transformative.
Trade restrictions and industrial policies were found to be pushing some organisations to reshore operations, while others offshore.
These trends were increasing demand for security-related roles and skills in network security, resilience, and agility.
Skill gaps were identified as the greatest barrier to business transformation, with 63% of employers highlighting this challenge.
While 85% of employers planned to prioritise workforce training, 11% of workers may not receive the reskilling needed to remain employable.
Despite this, many organisations saw effective upskilling initiatives and talent progression as critical to attracting and retaining workers.
Supporting employee health and wellbeing was also a growing focus, with 64% of employers identifying it as a key strategy for talent attraction.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are on the rise, with 83% of employers reporting such measures in place, up from 67% in 2023.
These initiatives were particularly prevalent in North America and among large organisations, reflecting their importance in expanding talent availability.
The report underscored that analytical thinking, resilience, and adaptability remained among the most essential skills, with AI and big data skills continuing to grow in importance.
As employers prepared for the future, they planned to reorient their businesses in response to AI, with many expecting to hire talent with AI expertise while reducing workforce numbers where automation can replace tasks.
The report suggested that the transformations ahead would require a combination of technological innovation, workforce adaptability, and a renewed focus on skills development.
Saadia Zahidi, managing director at the World Economic Forum, said: “The disruptions of recent years have underscored the importance of foresight and collective action.
“We hope this report will inspire an ambitious, multistakeholder agenda – one that equips workers, businesses, governments, educators and civil society to navigate the complex transitions ahead.”
