A recent study has revealed that farm workers and drivers are expected to be among the fastest-growing jobs over the next five years, while roles such as cashiers and ticket clerks will experience significant decline. The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Future of Jobs Report 2025, released on Wednesday, projects that by 2030, 170 million new jobs will be created globally, while 92 million jobs will be displaced, leading to a net increase of 78 million jobs.
The report, published ahead of the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos (January 20-25), highlights that 22% of jobs worldwide will be disrupted by 2030. Key factors contributing to these changes include technological advancements, demographic shifts, geoeconomic tensions, and economic pressures. These elements are reshaping industries and professions on a global scale.
Drawing from data collected across over 1,000 companies, the study identifies the skills gap as the largest obstacle to business transformation. Nearly 40% of job-related skills are expected to change, with 63% of employers citing this skills gap as a primary challenge.
While technological skills in AI, big data, and cybersecurity are anticipated to experience rapid growth, human skills such as creative thinking, resilience, flexibility, and agility will remain indispensable. The combination of both technological and human skills will be key to thriving in an evolving job market.
Job Growth in Frontline and Essential Sectors
The report indicates that frontline jobs and roles in essential sectors such as care and education are expected to see the highest growth by 2030. Advances in AI and renewable energy are expected to drive demand for technology specialists while affecting other roles. For instance, positions in graphic design are expected to see a decline due to the rise of generative AI.
Farm workers, delivery drivers, and construction workers are predicted to experience the most significant job growth in absolute terms by 2030. In addition, jobs in care sectors such as nursing professionals and education roles like secondary school teachers are also projected to grow significantly due to demographic trends.
Technological Advances and AI Adoption
The influence of AI, robotics, and renewable energy on industries is reshaping the labor market. Specialist roles in energy systems, renewable energy, and environmental engineering are expected to see growth. Meanwhile, traditional roles such as cashiers, administrative assistants, and graphic designers face a decline as automation and AI technology continue to evolve.
As AI adoption accelerates, 50% of employers are expected to use it to seize new opportunities, while 41% plan to reduce their workforce due to automation. At the same time, 77% of employers are investing in upskilling their workers to stay competitive.
Fastest-Growing and Declining Jobs
The report lists the five fastest-growing jobs, which include farm workers, delivery service drivers, software developers, building trades workers, and shop salespersons. Other roles in high demand include food processing workers, nursing professionals, food service workers, and project managers.
In contrast, the five fastest-declining jobs include cashiers, ticket clerks, administrative assistants, cleaners, and stock-keeping clerks. Other roles on the decline include accountants, auditors, security guards, data entry clerks, graphic designers, and customer service workers.
Top Skills for the Future
The fastest-growing skills by 2030 will be in AI, big data, networks and cybersecurity, technological literacy, and creative thinking. Soft skills like resilience, flexibility, curiosity, leadership, and social influence will also see increasing demand. Additionally, talent management, analytical thinking, and environmental stewardship will be crucial in the future workforce.
The ongoing transformation of the job market underscores the need for individuals to adapt, upskill, and balance technological proficiency with human-centered qualities to remain competitive in the years ahead.