AI TAKEOVER: 40% FIRMS PLAN WORKFORCE CUTS BUT WEF FORECASTS 170M NEW JOBS BY 2030!
As a new decade unfolds, decision-makers around the world grapple with the question: How will artificial intelligence (AI) impact the job market? Will it spawn new roles or engender a spike in unemployment? These uncertainties were the catalyst for the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Future of Jobs Report 2025, an unprecedented study assessing the expected impact of AI on the global labor market.
The WEF report, constructed from the cumulative data of 1,000 companies employing 14 million workers globally, paints an intriguing and potentially optimistic picture for the future of work. The report anticipates that AI could create up to 170 million new jobs while eliminating 92 million, resulting in a net gain of 78 million jobs by 2030. This prediction counterpoints the prevalent dystopian perspective of AI-induced mass unemployment, highlighting instead a potential positive trend of job creation.
However, this transformation will come with necessary adaptations for both companies and workers. Roles on the decline are predicted to be postal service clerks, executive secretaries, payroll staff, and for the first time, extend to graphic designers and legal secretaries. This shift underscores AI's growing prowess in creative and administrative tasks; advancements in AI capabilities have graced it with the ability to automate previously complex jobs.
But as old roles diminish, new ones burgeon. The data points toward a marked shift in required expertise; the top three skill-sets projected to be in demand by 2030 are AI and big data expertise, network and cybersecurity skills, and tech literacy. This shift positions technology proficiency from a high-advantage skill to an essential one.
Furthermore, AI is anticipated to revolutionize about 86 percent of company operations by 2030. This change underscores the urgency for businesses to adapt to an AI-centric model. However, the transformation is not just about implementing AI in routine tasks but also capitalizing on the new possibilities AI brings to the table: data-driven decision-making, deep consumer analytics, and predictive maintenance, among others.
This transformation of labor markets globally may sound like a daunting prospect for many, particularly those whose roles are on the decline. However, experts see this transition as an opportunity. If appropriately employed, the AI revolution can provide the catalyst that sparks widespread upskilling or reskilling, potentially leading to a better-skilled and resilient workforce in the future.
The WEF report opens a broader conversation about the future of work and the role of AI. While it offers a potential net gain of jobs, the challenge lies in how we prepare for this transition. The workforce will need to adapt, develop new skills, and embrace lifelong learning with a focus on technology literacy.
Globally, stakeholders across government, educational institutions, and businesses will need to share responsibility in shaping this transition. This will involve creating robust policy frameworks, investing in education and training, while also promoting inclusivity in the digital future to ensure that the artificial intelligence revolution does not widen but instead narrows the global socio-economic disparities. The big question remains – are we ready for what's next?