The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released a report that predicts significant changes in the job market by 2030. The report, titled “The Future of Jobs Report 2025,” draws data from over 1,000 companies worldwide. According to the report, about 170 new roles are set to be created, while 92 million jobs will be displaced by 2030.
This will result in a net rise of 78 million new jobs. The key drivers of these changes include technological advancements, demographic shifts, geoeconomic tensions, and economic pressures. The report emphasizes that the skills gap continues to be the most significant barrier to business transformation.
Nearly 40 percent of skills required on the job are set to change, and 63 percent of employers are already citing it as a key obstacle. Technology skills in AI, big data, and cybersecurity are expected to see rapid growth in demand. However, 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. The WEF report also highlights that frontline roles and essential sectors like care and education are set for the highest job growth by 2030. Advances in AI and renewable energy are reshaping the market, driving a rise in demand for many technology or specialist roles while simultaneously resulting in a decline for others, such as graphic designers.
The report notes that 41 percent of employers intend to downsize their workforce as AI automates certain tasks. However, 77 percent of companies also plan to reskill and upskill their existing workers between 2025 and 2030 to better work alongside AI. Postal service clerks, executive secretaries, and payroll clerks are among the jobs expected to experience the fastest decline in numbers due to AI and other trends.
Upskilling crucial in evolving job market
Even roles like graphic designers and legal secretaries, which were not previously predicted to decline rapidly, are now at risk due to the increasing capabilities of generative AI to perform knowledge work. The report emphasizes that the primary impact of technologies such as generative AI on jobs might lie in their potential for “augmenting” human skills through “human-machine collaboration,” rather than outright replacement.
This is particularly relevant given the continued importance of human-centered skills. The evolving landscape presents a dual narrative of job displacement and creation, urging a proactive approach in workforce reskilling and upskilling to meet future challenges and opportunities. The fastest-growing jobs are in technology, data, and AI, but core economy roles will also see growth.
The report finds that 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. AI is reshaping business models, with half of employers globally planning to restructure their business to tap into new technology-based opportunities.
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. The rising cost of living is another key factor driving labor market change, with half of employers expecting it to transform business models.
Global inflation has eased, but price pressures and slower economic growth are projected to displace six million jobs globally by 2030. Demographic shifts are reshaping labor markets, with aging populations in higher-income countries driving demand for healthcare roles, while the working-age population in lower-income regions fuels growth in education-related professions. Geopolitical tensions, trade restrictions, and industrial policy shifts are additional concerns affecting labor markets, with some companies planning to adapt through offshoring and reshoring strategies.
Key priority areas include bridging skills gaps, investing in reskilling and upskilling initiatives, and creating accessible pathways into fast-growing jobs.
April Isaacs is a news contributor for DevX.com She is long-term, self-proclaimed nerd. She loves all things tech and computers and still has her first Dreamcast system. It is lovingly named Joni, after Joni Mitchell.
