WEF: How AI Will Reshape 86% of Businesses by 2030
The rise of AI and automation has sparked global concerns and panic about job displacement, yet new research suggests these technologies may create more opportunities than they eliminate.
Yet as AI evolves quicker than organisations can keep up with, companies face pressure to adapt their workforce strategies while managing economic uncertainty and meeting evolving societal expectations.
Now, the challenge lies not just in implementing new technologies, but in preparing workers for roles that may not yet exist.
However, the WEF’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, indicates AI and automation will transform 86% of businesses by 2030, with research drawn from a survey of 1,000 companies across 22 industries and 55 economies, representing more than 14 million workers.
Digital access driving transformation
WEF reports that broadening digital access emerges as the most transformative trend, with 60% of employers expecting it to reshape their business by 2030 - proving the adoption of new technologies across all regions and sectors.
"As we enter 2025, the landscape of work continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Transformational breakthroughs, particularly in Gen AI, are reshaping industries and tasks across all sectors."
For instance, investment in Gen AI has increased eightfold since OpenAI released ChatGPT in November 2022.
However, whilst the technology sector leads AI adoption, construction lags.
According to the WEF, part of this lag is due to advanced and middle-income economies having widespread use of Gen AI, as low-income economies show limited implementation.
Yet workplace studies indicate the technology enhances human skills, enabling less specialised employees to perform expert tasks in accounting, nursing and teaching roles.
How robotics are impacting global manufacturing
WEF says that robot installations concentrate in five countries - China, Japan, US, Republic of Korea and Germany - accounting for 80% of global deployments.
- 86% of employers expect AI and information processing technologies to transform their business by 2030
- 170 million new jobs to be created globally by 2030, while 92 million existing roles face displacement
- Investment in Gen AI has increased eightfold since ChatGPT's launch
- 39% of existing skill sets will become outdated between 2025-2030
- 85% of employers plan to prioritise workforce upskilling
- 63% of employers identify skills gaps as the primary barrier to business transformation
Global robot density now reaches 162 units per 10,000 employees, double the figure from seven years ago.
However, regional variations in robotics impact reflect technological development disparities: over 60% of employers in the five leading countries anticipate transformation, compared to 39% in Sub-Saharan Africa and 44% in the Middle East and North Africa.
Highlighting the domineering issue of mass upskilling to keep up with AI’s evolution, Judith Wiese, Chief People and Sustainability Officer at Siemens AG, says in a LinkedIn post: “Imagine if a five-year degree were designed for today's skills; by the time it is completed, two years' worth of those skills would already be outdated.”
The report supports her point, by finding that 39% of existing skill sets will become outdated between 2025-203.
Skills development becomes priority
Coursera, the online learning platform, urges increased demand for Gen AI training.
India and the US lead in Gen AI enrolment numbers, with US demand driven by individual users while Indian uptake stems from corporate sponsorship.
The emphasis is on individual learners focusing on foundational skills like prompt engineering - the practice of crafting effective text inputs for AI systems - while corporate trainees emphasise practical workplace applications.
“Urgent upskilling is essential, as nearly 40% of the skills currently required on the job are set to change,” Judith points out.
Responding to this issue, Siemens increased its learning and education investment to €442m (US$464)in 2024, with employees averaging 27 hours of digital learning annually.
The WEF highlights that skills gaps present the primary barrier to business transformation for 63% of employers, leading 85% plan to prioritise upskilling their workforce, while 70% expect to hire staff with new skills.
Future growth areas emerging
The WEF reports that technology roles show the fastest growth, including positions for big data specialists, fintech engineers and AI specialists, whereas green transition roles such as autonomous vehicle specialists and renewable energy engineers feature among expanding positions.
Frontline roles also expect volume growth, including farmworkers, delivery drivers, construction workers and food processing workers.
Meanwhile, care economy jobs, including nursing professionals and social workers, also show expansion.
Climate change mitigation ranks as the third most transformative trend, with 47% of employers expecting business impact by 2030.
However, demographic shifts continue to shape labour markets, with aging populations in high-income economies increasing healthcare demand, while expanding working-age populations in lower-income economies fuel education sector growth.
“As we enter 2025, the landscape of work continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Transformational breakthroughs, particularly in Gen AI, are reshaping industries and tasks across all sectors,” says Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director at the WEF.
Yet she warns of the road ahead: “These technological advances, however, are converging with a broader array of challenges, including economic volatility, geoeconomic realignments, environmental challenges and evolving societal expectations.”
Explore the latest edition of Technology Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Tech & AI LIVE.
Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.
Technology Magazine is a BizClik brand
