WEF Future of Jobs Report: Transformation by 2030 to Impact 22% of the Workforce Market
Foreks - The 2025 Future of Jobs Report, published today, provides significant insights into the future of occupations. The survey conducted in Turkey in collaboration with TÜSİAD - Sabancı University Competitiveness Forum reveals that the transformation expected in the labor market by 2030 will affect 22% of jobs.
As a result of this transformation, 170 million new roles are anticipated to emerge, while 92 million roles are expected to disappear, leading to a net job increase of 78 million. Technological advancements, demographic changes, geopolitical tensions, and economic pressures are reshaping industries and professions worldwide.
The report, prepared with the participation of over 1,000 companies globally, indicates that the biggest obstacle to the transformation of the business world today is the skills gap. While 63% of employers emphasize that the most significant challenge they face is the lack of skills, it is projected that approximately 40% of the skills required in existing jobs will change. While the demand for technological skills in artificial intelligence, big data, and cybersecurity is rapidly increasing, human skills such as creative thinking, resilience, flexibility, and agility will also remain critically important. In the swiftly changing labor market, a combined skill set that encompasses both types of skills is expected to become increasingly necessary.
Frontline roles and essential sectors such as care and education are anticipated to experience the highest job growth by 2030. Developments in artificial intelligence and renewable energy are reshaping the job market, increasing demand for many roles that require technology or expertise. In contrast, a decline in demand has been observed for routine roles, including graphic designers.
“Generative artificial intelligence and the rapidly changing technological ecosystem provide unique opportunities while also creating significant risks, transforming industries and labor markets,” says Till Leopold, Head of the World Economic Forum's Business, Wages, and Job Creation Department. He adds, “Companies and governments must take action today to invest in skills and build a fair and resilient global workforce.”
20230 Labor Market Frontline roles such as agricultural workers, couriers, and construction workers are expected to achieve the largest absolute job growth by 2030. Alongside population trends and increasing demand in fundamental sectors, significant growth is projected for health care workers, such as nurses, and professionals in the education sector. Advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, and especially in renewable energy and environmental fields are expected to boost demand for roles requiring these specializations. On the other hand, the transformation brought about by generative artificial intelligence adds graphic designers to the list of roles, such as cashiers and administrative assistants, that are already in decline.
Skills Gap The skills gap, which is the most challenging factor in the global transformation of the business world, is viewed as the primary barrier to preparing for the future by 63% of employers. In a scenario where the global workforce is represented by 100 individuals, it is estimated that 59 will need to reskill or upskill by 2030. However, it is predicted that 11 of those individuals will not have access to the necessary training opportunities. This means that more than 120 million workers may face the risk of unemployment in the medium term.
While demand for skills in artificial intelligence, big data, and cybersecurity is expected to rise the fastest, human skills such as analytical thinking, cognitive skills, resilience, leadership, and collaboration will also remain critical. A combined skill set that blends technology and human skills will increasingly be in demand across numerous emerging occupations.
Artificial Intelligence and Skill Development Artificial intelligence is significantly transforming business models. Half of global employers plan to reposition their activities to leverage new opportunities offered by artificial intelligence. The most common approach to this change is to invest in reskilling or upskilling employees. 77% of employers indicate that they will take steps in this direction. However, 41% anticipate reducing their workforce due to certain tasks being automated by artificial intelligence. Almost half of the employers plan to reassign employees in affected positions to different departments, aiming to both close the skills gap and mitigate the negative impacts of technological transformation on individuals.
Rapidly evolving technologies are pushing business leaders, policymakers, and workers into collaboration. All stakeholders need to take responsibility to prepare the workforce for these changes while also preventing unemployment that may arise between sectors and countries.
Beyond Technology: Economic, Demographic, and Geoeconomic Changes The rising cost of living emerges as a key factor driving transformation in the labor market. Half of employers predict that increasing costs will transform their business models. Despite a decline in global inflation, rising price pressures and slowing economic growth are expected to eliminate 6 million jobs worldwide by 2030. These challenges are increasing the need for skills such as resilience, agility, flexibility, and creative thinking.
Demographic changes also play an essential role in the labor market. The aging population in high-income countries increases demand for healthcare services, while the growing working-age population in low-income countries stimulates growth in the education sector. All these differences necessitate workforce strategies focused on talent management, education, and mentoring.
Geopolitical tensions are currently the greatest concern for 34% of businesses. Trade restrictions and changes in industrial policy are also reshaping the strategies of many companies. Some companies plan to relocate through offshoring or reshoring policies. All these developments lead to a further increase in the demand for skills in areas such as cybersecurity.
Turkey-Specific Findings The expanding digital access is expected to lead to significant changes in Turkey's labor market between 2025 and 2030. This situation will pave the way for firms in the country to adopt technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics more intensively. Additionally, 60% of companies in Turkey foresee that energy technologies will transform their business models. These expectations are reflected in the list of job roles predicted to grow the fastest in the country: Robotics Engineers, Renewable Energy Engineers, and Autonomous and Electric Vehicle Specialists are among the professions expected to stand out in the coming period.
Employers estimate that by 2030, 44% of the skills required for jobs will change in Turkey; this rate is above the global average of 39%. Skills in artificial intelligence and big data, technological literacy, and cybersecurity are highlighted as the fastest-growing competencies in the country. Furthermore, the importance of multilingual competencies is also expected to show a more significant increase compared to the global average.
Urgent Action Required The World Economic Forum calls on governments and businesses to make tangible investments in skill development to respond to the rapid transformation in the labor market and provide future generations with a fair, flexible, and sustainable working environment. These efforts are emphasized as critical in shaping the future of the global workforce and supporting economic and social development.