The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released its Future of Jobs Report 2025, which highlights key findings and changes expected to shape the global job market by 2030.

Based on insights from 55 economies, the report projects a net increase of 78 million jobs by 2030 and examines the impact of technology, economic shifts, and the green transition on employment and skills.

Key Findings

1) Fastest-Growing Roles: Frontline jobs (e.g., farmworkers, delivery personnel), care economy roles, tech specialists, and green transition jobs are in high demand.

2) Declining Roles: Clerical positions, including cashiers, data entry clerks, and bank tellers, are expected to decline significantly.

3) In-Demand Technologies: Key areas include Artificial Intelligence (AI) and information processing (86%), robotics and automation (58%), and energy technologies (41%).

4) Sectoral Trends: Climate-change mitigation is driving demand for renewable energy engineers, environmental experts, and electric/autonomous vehicle specialists.

5) Aging populations in high-income economies are boosting demand for healthcare professionals, while low-income economies are creating opportunities for educators and talent managers.

6) Geopolitical tensions are increasing the need for security roles and cybersecurity skills.

7) India is leading in AI skills enrollment, supported by corporate sponsorship of GenAI training.

8) India and Sub-Saharan African nations will contribute nearly two-thirds of the global workforce entrants in the coming years.

Challenges to Employment in India

1) Automation: Repetitive tasks in manufacturing and services are increasingly automated, potentially displacing jobs. Skill Gaps:

2) A significant portion of the workforce lacks expertise in high-demand areas like AI, cybersecurity, and data science, creating a talent mismatch.

3) Urban-Rural Divide: Urban areas are rapidly adopting new technologies, while rural regions lag behind, causing disparities in employment opportunities and economic growth.

4) Informal Sector Issues: Workers in the informal economy, which constitutes a major part of India's workforce, face difficulties transitioning to technology-driven roles due to limited access to education and training.

Way Forward

1) Upskilling: Governments, businesses, and educational institutions must collaborate on specialized training programs to meet the demands of emerging sectors.

2) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Organizations should invest in diversity recruitment initiatives to engage underrepresented communities and enhance the talent pool.

3) AI Adoption for Workforce: Encourage collaboration between human creativity and AI efficiency to improve productivity without sacrificing employment.

4) Talent Retention: Regular pay reviews, transparent compensation structures, and incentives such as stock options, bonuses, and benefits can help retain skilled employees and promote development.

5) Public Policy Support: Governments should prioritize funding for reskilling and upskilling initiatives, particularly in industries impacted by technology, while offering financial support, retraining programs, and job placement for displaced workers.


Syllabus GS-3:
- Issues of Poverty, Unemployment, Social Justice and Inclusive growth.