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Back 04.06.2025 All news

How jobs are changing

As the world of work enters a new era marked by technological acceleration, sustainability imperatives, and changing workforce demands, the jobs landscape is undergoing dramatic transformation. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 offers a detailed projection of the roles that are emerging, declining, and evolving at the intersection of automation, climate action, and digitalization. This article synthesizes key findings from the report, offering insight into where the greatest opportunities and disruptions lie in the years ahead.

Growing roles: AI, data, and sustainability lead the way

The most significant job growth is expected in roles tied to technology, data, and sustainability.

  • AI and machine learning specialists top the list, with 82% job growth expected, driven by rapid adoption of generative AI and automation tools.
  • Data analysts and scientists, business intelligence analysts, and big data specialists also see net-positive growth, reflecting the growing need for data-driven decision-making across all industries.
  • Sustainability specialists and renewable energy engineers are rising in demand as companies respond to environmental regulations and consumer expectations on climate action.

These roles exemplify how technological transformation and environmental priorities are shaping a new class of high-demand, high-skill professions.

Declining roles: Routine and administrative jobs at risk

While some jobs are booming, others face significant displacement. Roles with high exposure to automation and digitization are especially vulnerable.

  • Administrative assistants, executive secretaries, and data entry clerks are among the fastest-declining positions.
  • Accounting and bookkeeping clerks are also projected to see a significant net decline due to the increasing use of financial automation software and AI-based reporting tools.

These trends reflect a broader shift away from routine, repetitive work toward more strategic, analytical, and technology-enhanced roles.

The skills evolution: From resilience to AI literacy

With job roles in flux, the skills required to succeed in the future workforce are evolving quickly.

  • Core skills of 2025 include analytical thinking (81%), resilience and agility (71%), and lifelong learning (61%).
  • By 2030, the most in-demand capabilities are expected to be in AI and big data (92%), technological literacy (81%), creative thinking (84%), and cybersecurity.
  • Human-centered skills like empathy, service orientation, and collaboration will also remain crucial in hybrid, people-tech work environments.

These findings highlight the need for continuous learning and the blending of technical proficiency with emotional intelligence.

The human-machine frontier: Toward task reallocation

Automation will not fully replace humans but will increasingly take over specific tasks, leading to a reconfiguration of job roles.

  • As of now, 51% of tasks are completed by humans, with 21% by technology.
  • By 2030, technology is expected to handle 34% of tasks, with only 37% remaining purely human-driven, and 29% shared between humans and machines.

This evolving “human-machine frontier” underscores the importance of upskilling the workforce to work alongside intelligent systems rather than compete with them.

Upskilling, reskilling, and workforce transitions

Organizations are already recognizing the need for targeted workforce strategies.

  • 85% of employers plan to upskill their current workforce by 2030.
  • 29% of workers are expected to be upskilled within their current role, while 19% will be upskilled and redeployed to new roles.
  • Still, 11% of the global workforce may be unlikely to receive training, raising concerns about growing inequality and exclusion from future job markets.

Proactive investment in training programs, public-private partnerships, and inclusive policies will be essential to manage this transition.

Bridging the skills gap: BHMS - BA in Global Business Management

In response to the evolving demands of the global workforce, educational institutions play a pivotal role in equipping students with the necessary skills. The Business & Hotel Management School (BHMS) in Lucerne, Switzerland, offers a Bachelor of Arts in Global Business Management designed to address these very challenges.

This three-year programme is tailored to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of contemporary business principles and effective customer service strategies, preparing them for leadership roles in today's dynamic service sector and beyond. The curriculum emphasizes analytical thinking, technological literacy, and adaptability—skills identified as crucial in the Future of Jobs Report 2025. Moreover, BHMS integrates practical industry applications with academic learning, ensuring that graduates are not only theoretically proficient but also ready to tackle real-world business challenges.

By aligning its educational offerings with the projected trends in the global job market, BHMS empowers its students to navigate the complexities of the modern workforce confidently.

Preparing for disruption and opportunity

The jobs outlook over the next five years presents a dual narrative: one of disruption, with routine roles facing rapid automation, and one of opportunity, where AI, sustainability, and innovation create demand for entirely new professions. Organizations that prioritize reskilling, embrace emerging technologies, and cultivate adaptive, inclusive cultures will be best positioned to thrive.

Are you prepared to lead a workforce reshaped by transformation? Understanding where the future of jobs is heading is the first step toward strategic workforce planning and lasting resilience.

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