WEF Future of Jobs Report | 78 million new jobs by 2030, skill gap needs to be bridged urgently – CNBC TV18

The global job market may see a significant change by 2030. The World Economic Forum (WEF)’s ‘Future of Jobs Report 2025’ estimates that an estimated 170 million new jobs will be created by 2030.

However, the report also estimates that 92 million jobs will be lost, resulting in a net increase of 78 million positions.

Job growth is expected to be strongest in the care, education, technology and renewable energy sectors, while traditional roles are likely to decline due to automation and technological advances.

Key drivers of these changes include advances in technology, demographic changes, economic pressures, and the global transition to green energy.

According to the report, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be a major factor driving these changes, with 50% of employers planning to leverage AI for new opportunities. However, 41% of companies also anticipate workforce reductions as a result of automation.

Despite this, sectors such as technology, data, AI and renewable energy will experience rapid employment growth. However, essential frontline roles such as care workers, farmworkers, delivery drivers and teachers are also expected to see significant demand.

At the same time, jobs in fields like graphic design and administrative support are declining as automation and AI reshape the labor market.

Despite promising growth, the report emphasizes the urgent need for upskilling to address the growing skills gap, highlighting the growing demand for both technical and human skills.

Nearly 40% of the skills needed for jobs by 2030 will be new or developed, requiring workers to have a combination of technical expertise and human skills such as resilience, leadership, cognitive skills and creativity.

WEF emphasizes the critical need for reskilling and upskilling initiatives, as 59% of the global workforce will require training to meet future job demands. The report further states that approximately 60% of the global workforce will require reskilling or upskilling by 2030.

With the rise of AI, many employers are focusing on improving their existing workforce, although 41% plan to reduce their workforce due to automation. As businesses adapt to AI and other technological changes, workers will need to transition to roles that are less susceptible to automation.

The report also highlights that geopolitical tensions, economic challenges and demographic changes are reshaping labor markets. As the global workforce adapts to these changes, collective action by businesses, governments, and educational institutions is critical to ensure a flexible and adaptable workforce.

“Trends such as generative AI and rapid technological change are disrupting industries and labor markets, creating both unprecedented opportunities and profound risks,” said Till Leopold, head of work, wages and job creation at WEF. “Now is the time for businesses and governments to work together, invest in skills and create an equitable and resilient global workforce.”

Here are the top 10 fastest growing skills by 2030: