The debate over artificial intelligence's impact on employment has taken a positive turn, with new data suggesting AI will be a net job creator rather than job destroyer.
The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 projects that AI and related technologies will transform 86% of businesses by 2030, creating 170 million new jobs globally while displacing 92 million existing roles. This results in a net gain of 78 million jobs, equivalent to 7% of current global employment.
The findings, based on a survey of 1,000 companies across 22 industries and 55 economies representing over 14 million workers, indicate that technological change will be the primary driver of this transformation. While many fear AI will eliminate jobs, the data suggests a more nuanced reality where job disruption equals about 22% of current employment.
Surprisingly, frontline roles will see the largest growth in absolute terms, including farmworkers, delivery drivers, and construction workers. The care economy will also experience significant expansion, with increased demand for nursing professionals and social workers. Meanwhile, technology-focused roles in AI, big data, and cybersecurity are among the fastest-growing by percentage.
However, this transition comes with challenges. The WEF reports that 39% of workers' core skills will become outdated between 2025-2030, making upskilling essential. "Urgent upskilling is needed to prepare workforces for the AI-driven future," notes the report, with technological skills projected to grow in importance more rapidly than any other skills.
As Wharton professor Ethan Mollick observes, while technological breakthroughs have typically created more jobs than they've destroyed throughout history, AI presents a novel test of this pattern. The key to success will be how effectively businesses and governments collaborate to invest in skills development and build an equitable, resilient global workforce ready for this AI-driven transformation.