The Future of Work
Contrary to popular belief, I don’t spend my weekends pouring over The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025. I only skim it to make sure we are all going to be okay!
A lot of the time, we believe technology transformations will happen in dramatic ways. But in reality, it's a slow creeping shift that won’t announce itself with a bang but through a series of quiet displacements, unnoticed until it's too late.
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 paints a stark picture: nearly 170 million jobs will be created by 2030, but 92 million will vanish. The net gain is positive, but that’s cold comfort to those on the wrong side of the divide. The future isn’t waiting for anyone, and the message is clear: adapt or be left behind.
The main theme throughout the report is automation and AI. Once upon a time, machines took over manual labour but now they are taking over cognitive work. Engineers, designers and data analysts are in demand but the middle tier i.e.the steady, predictable jobs that once formed the backbone of economies, is eroding. After all, machines don’t negotiate. It doesn’t ask for a raise. It just works.
On the other hand, roles in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and environmental engineering are booming. But for every ‘green’ job created, another disappears in industries that failed to adapt.
Shifting work models and economic instability are also reshaping industries in ways most haven’t fully grasped. Remote work, once a pandemic necessity, is now an expectation. But the rise of distributed teams means companies can hire from anywhere, pitting local workers against a global talent pool.
But the report does not just focus on the negatives, it also suggests a few ways we can stay ahead of the curve. In essence, the idea of ‘finishing’ education is dead. Those who continually reskill, especially in AI, sustainability, and data, will stay ahead. Everyone else will become obsolete.
The ability to pivot, rebrand, and embrace new roles will separate those who thrive from those who don’t, and those who double down on uniquely human skills will remain indispensable.
The old playbook—get a degree, find a stable job, work until retirement is dead. The future of work isn’t coming. It’s already here. The only question left is: are you ready?
Sonam Pelden
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