The world of work is transforming faster than ever before. As we look towards 2030, powerful trends like technological advancements, the green transition, economic shifts, and demographic changes are reshaping the global labour market.
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 gives us a glimpse into what this future might look like, identifying which jobs are expected to grow and decline over the next five years.
Understanding these shifts isn’t just interesting – it’s essential for anyone planning their career path or looking to stay relevant in the changing landscape.
Let’s explore the jobs leading the charge and those facing disruption.
The report paints a generally positive picture for overall job growth, projecting the creation of 170 million new jobs globally by 2030. While this is offset by the displacement of 92 million jobs, the net result is an expected increase of 78 million jobs.
The fastest-growing jobs, in percentage terms, are heavily influenced by technological developments, particularly advancements in AI and robotics, and increasing digital access.
Some of the fastest-growing jobs by 2030 include:
- Big Data Specialists
- Fintech Engineers
- AI and Machine Learning Specialists – (AI and information processing technologies are among the top three drivers of growth for all the top 10 fastest-growing jobs)
- Software and Application Developers
- Security Management Specialists – (partially driven by increased geopolitical fragmentation)
- Data Warehousing Specialists
- Autonomous and Electric Vehicle Specialists – (driven by the green transition)
- UI and UX Designers
- Internet of Things Specialists
- Data Analysts and Scientists
- Environmental Engineers – (driven by the green transition)
- Information Security Analysts – (driven by technology and geoeconomic trends)
- Devops Engineer
- Renewable Energy Engineers – (driven by the green transition)
Beyond the fastest-growing in percentage, there are also jobs expected to see the largest growth in absolute numbers of position.
- Farmworkers (driven by green transition, digital access, and rising cost of living)
- Delivery Drivers
- Building Construction Workers
- Salespersons
- Food Processing Workers
- Care economy jobs like Nursing Professionals, Social Work and Counselling Professionals, and Personal Care Aides (driven by demographic trends, especially ageing populations)
- Education roles such as Tertiary and Secondary Education Teachers (driven by digital access and growing working-age populations)
- Software and Applications Developers
- General and Operations Managers
- Project Managers
These growing roles are influenced by a wider range of factors, including demographic and economic trends, not just technology.
The Jobs Facing Decline
On the other side of the coin are the jobs expected to decline. These declines are primarily driven by the increasing capabilities of digital access, AI, and automation technologies.
The jobs expected to see the largest decline in absolute numbers are Clerical and Secretarial Workers.
The fastest-declining roles include-
- Postal Service Clerks
- Bank Tellers
- Data Entry Clerks
- Cashiers and Ticket Clerks
- Administrative Assistants and Executive Secretaries
- Printing Workers
- Accountants and Auditors
The main drivers for the decline in these roles are broadening digital access, AI and information processing technologies, and robots and autonomous systems.
Ageing populations and slower economic growth also contribute to the decline in some clerical roles.
What About Skills? The Key to Adaptation
This changing job market highlights the critical importance of skills. The report estimates that around two-fifths (39%) of workers’ existing skill sets will need to be transformed or may become outdated by 2030.
While skills like manual dexterity and reading/writing/mathematics may see declining relative importance in some contexts.
Crucial skills for the future include analytical thinking, creative thinking, and socio-emotional skills like resilience, flexibility, and agility.
Not surprisingly, technology skills such as AI and big data, networks and cybersecurity, and technology literacy are anticipated to be the top three fastest-growing skills. Environmental stewardship is also rising in importance.
Importantly, skills gaps are seen as the biggest barrier to business transformation by most employers surveyed. This is why employers are prioritising upskilling and reskilling their workforces.
Your Future, Your Move
The picture for 2025-2030 is one of significant change, but also a significant opportunity. While some jobs are declining due to automation and other trends, many new roles are being created, particularly in technology, green industries, healthcare, and education.
This isn’t about fearing the future; it’s about preparing for it. Consider these trends over the next five years:
- Embrace Technology: Roles and skills related to AI, data, cybersecurity, and digital platforms are clearly in demand. Learning these skills can open up many doors.
- Look at the Green Transition: The shift towards sustainability is creating new jobs in renewable energy and environmental engineering.
- Consider the Human Touch: Despite technology, roles in healthcare, education, and care are growing significantly due to demographic shifts. Skills like empathy, leadership, and effective communication remain crucial
- Focus on Adaptability: With 39% of skills changing, continuous learning and developing resilience, flexibility, and agility are key to navigating transitions.
The future of jobs is dynamic. By understanding the forces driving change and focusing on developing the skills that are in increasing demand, you can position yourself for success in the evolving labour market over the coming years.
It’s a time for learning, adapting, and leaning into the opportunities that emerge from this transformation.