What Will Be The Future Of Jobs? WEF Report Reveals

(The Corner Office Journal) -- Shifting global trends in technology, economy, demographics and the green transition will likely create 78 million new jobs by 2030, but there’s an urgent need for upskilling to prepare workforces for these opportunities, according to a report by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

The job disruption will equate to 22% of jobs by 2030, with 170 million new roles set to be created and 92 million displaced, resulting in a net increase of 78 million jobs, the WEF’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 revealed.

Technological advancements, demographic shifts, geo-economics tensions and economic pressures will be the key drivers of these changes, reshaping industries and professions worldwide, it said.

The WEF said technology skills in artificial intelligence (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 skillsets will increasingly be required by many growing jobs, it added.

Fastest-Growing Jobs

Frontline roles, including farmworkers, delivery drivers and construction workers, are poised to see the largest job growth in absolute terms by 2030, according to the WEF.

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, it added.

Advances in AI, robotics and energy systems – notably in renewable energy and environmental engineering – are also expected to increase demand for specialist roles in these fields, according to the WEF.

Roles such as cashiers and administrative assistants will remain among the fastest declining but are now joined by roles, including graphic designers as generative AI rapidly reshapes the labor market, it said.

The Key Barrier

The WEF’s said data from over 1,000 companies showed that the skills gap continues to be the most significant barrier to business transformation today, with nearly 40% of skills required on the job set to change and 63% of employers already citing it as the key barrier they face.

"Trends such as generative AI and rapid technological shifts are upending industries and labor markets, creating both unprecedented opportunities and profound risks," said Till Leopold, head of Work, Wages and Job Creation at the WEF. "The time is now for businesses and governments to work together, invest in skills and build an equitable and resilient global workforce."

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, according to the WEF.

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