WEF Future of Jobs Report 2025 Highlights
Key Findings Overview
Job Market Transformation
By 2030, structural labour-market transformation (creation and destruction) is expected to amount to 22% of today's total jobs. This involves creating 170 million new jobs (14% of current employment) and displacing 92 million jobs (8%), resulting in a net growth of 78 million jobs (7%).
Skill Disruption
On average, 39% of workers' core skills are expected to change by 2030. This "skill instability" has slowed slightly compared to previous reports (44% in 2023). Analytical thinking remains the most sought-after core skill.
Top Trends
Broadening digital access (60% of employers), rising cost of living (50%), and climate-change mitigation (47%) are the top trends expected to drive business transformation.
Workforce Strategies
Upskilling the workforce (85%), accelerating automation (73%), and hiring staff with new skills (70%) are the top planned strategies.
Training Needs by 2030
Analysis suggests significant training needs: out of 100 workers, 59 will require training by 2030. Employers anticipate 29 can be upskilled in current roles, and 19 reskilled/redeployed. However, 11 may lack access to necessary training, risking their employment prospects.
Drivers of Transformation
Technology adoption, particularly AI, and broadening digital access are major drivers. Economic factors like cost of living, geoeconomic shifts, the green transition, and demographic changes also play significant roles.
Macrotrends Shaping Business
Broadening digital access is seen as most transformative (60% of employers). Rising cost of living (50%) and efforts to reduce carbon emissions (47%) follow closely. Geopolitical division impacts about a third of businesses (34%).
Technology's Influence
AI and information processing technologies are expected to be the most impactful (86% of employers). Robots and autonomous systems (58%) and energy generation/storage technologies (41%) are also highly significant drivers of change.
Jobs Outlook (2025-2030)
Fastest Job Growth/Decline (%)
Technology-related roles like Big Data Specialists, FinTech Engineers, and AI/ML Specialists show the fastest growth rates. Conversely, clerical roles such as Postal Service Clerks, Bank Tellers, and Data Entry Clerks are expected to decline fastest, largely due to technology adoption.
Largest Job Growth/Decline (Absolute)
In terms of sheer numbers, frontline roles like Farmworkers, Delivery Drivers, and Construction Workers are projected for the largest net growth. Care and Education roles also grow significantly. The largest absolute declines are expected in roles like Cashiers, Administrative Assistants, and Stock-Keeping Clerks.
Net Impact of Trends on Jobs
Broadening digital access is expected to create the most jobs (net +9.9M), followed by growing working-age populations (+9.1M). Robotics and autonomous systems are the largest net job displacer (-4.8M), followed by slower economic growth (-1.6M). AI & info processing has a smaller net positive effect (+1.8M) due to significant displacement offsetting creation.
The Human-Machine Frontier
Currently, employers estimate 47% of work tasks are done mainly by humans, 30% by human-machine combination, and 22% mainly by technology. By 2030, this is expected to shift to a near-even split: 33% human, 33% combination, and 34% technology. This highlights increasing automation and augmentation.
Skills Outlook (2025-2030)
Core Skills Needed Now (2025)
Analytical thinking is the top core skill (69% of employers). Other essential skills include Resilience, flexibility & agility (67%), Leadership & social influence (61%), Creative thinking (57%), and Motivation & self-awareness (52%). Technological literacy is also key (51%).
Skills Growing Fastest in Importance
AI & Big Data tops the list (87% net increase). Networks & Cybersecurity (70%) and Technological Literacy (66%) follow. Human-centric skills like Creative Thinking (66%), Resilience, flexibility & agility (66%), and Curiosity & lifelong learning (61%) are also rising rapidly.
Core Skills Landscape by 2030 (Proxy)
This chart proxies the future landscape (see Fig 3.6 in report). Skills crucial now and expected to grow further include AI & big data, analytical & creative thinking, resilience, and tech literacy. Emerging skills, becoming increasingly vital, include Networks & cybersecurity and Environmental stewardship.
Workforce Strategies
Barriers to Transformation
Skills gaps in the labour market remain the primary barrier (63% of employers). Organisational culture & resistance to change (46%) and outdated or inflexible regulatory frameworks (39%) are also significant hurdles.
Planned Workforce Strategies
Upskilling the current workforce is the most common strategy (85%). Accelerating automation (73%), hiring staff with new skills (70%), augmenting the workforce with tech (63%), and transitioning staff internally (51%) are other key approaches.
Practices to Boost Talent Availability
Supporting employee health and well-being has emerged as the top practice (64%). Providing effective reskilling/upskilling (63%) and improving talent progression/promotion (62%) remain crucial. Offering higher wages (50%) and tapping into diverse talent pools (47%) are also key.
Desired Public Policies for Talent
Employers see the highest potential in public policies providing funding for reskilling/upskilling (55%) and direct provision of reskilling/upskilling (52%). Improving public education systems (47%) is also a high priority.
Planned Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Measures
DEI training for managers/staff is the most commonly planned measure (51%). Targeted recruitment, retention, and progression initiatives (48%) and setting DEI goals/targets/quotas (42%) follow. Setting targets has seen the fastest growth in anticipated adoption since 2023.
Workforce Strategies in Response to AI
The most common strategies are reskilling/upskilling the existing workforce for AI collaboration (77%), hiring new talent with skills to design AI tools (69%), and hiring new talent skilled in working alongside AI (62%). A significant portion (41%) also anticipate downsizing where AI can replicate human work.