Two reports. Two different horizons.
In 2018, the World Economic Forum asked employers about the world of work in 2022. The 2025 edition looks ahead to 2030. Between these publications, tools, economic conditions and the language of automation changed.
The same question keeps returning: which tasks will people do, which will technology take over, and how can we prepare for that change?
An important caveat: both reports primarily describe employers’ expectations. The 2025 edition does not assess whether the 2018 forecasts came true. Their samples and forecast periods also differ.
Forecasts in figures
The 2018 report estimated that 75 million jobs might be displaced and 133 million new roles created by 2022. The authors urged caution in interpreting these extrapolations. The 2025 edition forecasts 170 million new jobs and 92 million displaced jobs by 2030.
| Indicator | 2018 → 2022 | 2025 → 2030 |
|---|---|---|
| New roles / jobs | 133 million | 170 million |
| Displaced jobs | 75 million | 92 million |
| Net change | +58 million | +78 million |
| Change in required skills | 42% | 39% |
Both reports forecast a positive net balance. But that balance applies across economies. It does not tell us whether a person in a declining occupation will find a new job, where that job will emerge or how long retraining will take.
A net increase in jobs does not mean an easy transition for every worker.
More than a change of job title
Data analysis and technology feature among growing areas in both editions. In the 2030 forecast, AI and machine-learning roles grow rapidly, but substantial job growth also includes care, education and frontline occupations.
Office administration, secretarial work and data entry recur among the declining areas. That is why I’m interested in looking at everyday work through its tasks: which involve moving information, which require analysis, and which depend on conversation, responsibility and context?
- 59/100
- workers will need training
- 39%
- of current skills will change or become outdated
- 11/100
- workers may not receive the training they need
Alongside technological skills, the 2025 report highlights analytical thinking, adaptability, creativity and curiosity. This offers a useful starting point for team development: how do we combine familiarity with tools and the ability to ask the right questions?
How I want to read these reports
As a map of expectations and a prompt to examine my own work. Which processes are repetitive? Where does technology actually save time? Which skills do we need to judge its results?
Answering ‘what came true?’ requires a separate comparison with actual employment data for matching markets and periods. Here, I place two employer perspectives on the future side by side. It is a starting point for looking more closely at change.
Sources
World Economic Forum — Future of Jobs Report 2025 ↗
Key Findings, pp. 5–6. Forecast horizon: 2030.
Editorial draft based on two reports. Table and figures compiled by me, using World Economic Forum data.