Navigating the AI-Powered Future of Work
The 2025 Future of Jobs Report paints a vivid picture of a rapidly evolving labor market, driven by technological advancements, economic shifts, and global trends. But, what does this actually mean for businesses and their people?
BUSINESS STRATEGY
Nuri C.
1/27/20253 min read


The recently released Future of Jobs Report 2025 provides a fascinating glimpse into the future of work, and as an organisation helping other businesses innovate in the age of AI, we find its insights particularly compelling. The report, compiled from a survey of over 1,000 leading global employers, underscores the profound impact that technology, especially AI, will have on the global job market by 2030.
The Transformative Power of Tech and Digital Access
Unsurprisingly, broadening digital access is identified as the most transformative trend, with 60% of employers expecting it to reshape their businesses. What will this reshaping look like, however, is perhaps more unclear. Any large-scale technological advancement will require widespread digital literacy and infrastructure development. It’s also important to balance what is hype and what is long term to ensure businesses squander valuable time and resources. Our advice is always to create a mix between cutting edge and long term investment. For example, instead of chasing the latest AI models one release after the other, we recommend our clients to abstract away the individual models and focus on the deliverable outcome akin to the idea of a car versus the engine of a car. The concept of cars and transport have been and will be around for a long time but the individual engines, designs are more ephemeral.
86% of employers unsurprisingly recognise these technological shifts transformative potential. As an innovation partner, we see this as a call to action for businesses to embrace advancements to stay competitive not only in their local market but also on the global stage.
A Shifting Skills Landscape
While analytical thinking remains paramount, there's a surging demand for skills related to AI, big data, networks, cybersecurity, and technological literacy. Interestingly, "soft skills" like resilience, flexibility, agility, leadership, and social influence are also gaining prominence. This highlights the need for a balanced approach to skill development, where technical expertise is complemented by human-centric capabilities. Just focusing on technical interviews to rate candidates for job positions, it is equally important to focus on these soft skills that are inevitably more difficult to quantify and scale. For example, job interviews should have no more than one technical stage which ideally should be in-person to assess the person's aforementioned soft skills.
A full 39% of current skills are expected to be outdated by 2030. This isn't just a challenge, it's an opportunity. It is also not the first time we are experiencing a skill landscape change. We don’t have to do mental calculations anymore, or remember phone numbers. You can identify generations where recalling numerous phone numbers versus those who don’t need since the ubiquitous mobile phones and their contacts list. Forward-thinking organisations will see this as a chance to invest in their workforce, fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation.
The Rise of the Human-AI Partnership
The report predicts that while 170 million new jobs will be created by 2030, 92 million will be displaced, for a net growth of 78 million jobs. These new jobs are not just in tech but across all sectors, particularly in roles where humans work alongside AI. Frontline, care economy, and education roles are projected to see significant growth, emphasising the continued importance of human connection and empathy. It will most likely be businesses that integrate AI, just like any other technology, that will succeed the most.
The transformative phase many refer to is not too different from previous technological advancements. A simple example could be the integration of computers in the workforce. They replaced certain jobs sure, but businesses that adapted to leverage their workforce has excelled to become more efficient. For example, an air traffic control (ATC) tower wouldn’t work without the harmonious collaboration between the controllers and computer systems running behind the scenes. Artificial intelligence as it is currently marketed will most likely have a similar role in the workforce of future.
Our Role in Shaping the Future
As an AI consultancy and R&D group, we are committed to helping organisations navigate this transformative period. Our expertise lies in:
Strategic AI Integration: We help businesses identify areas where AI can enhance productivity, optimise operations, and create new value streams.
Workforce Transformation: We guide organisations in developing upskilling and reskilling programs that equip their workforce with the skills needed to thrive in an AI-powered world. Our own internal R&D highlight the latest areas of knowledge gaps and focus in bolstering them.
Ethical AI Development: We champion the responsible development and deployment of AI, ensuring that it aligns with human values and promotes fairness, transparency, and accountability.
The Future is Human-Centric
We conclude this short article by noting that The Future of Jobs Report 2025 is not just about technology; it's actually about people. It underscores the importance of investing in human capital, fostering a culture of lifelong learning, and embracing diversity and inclusion. As we move towards 2030, organisations that prioritise these principles will be best positioned to harness the power of AI as a technology and create a future that is both prosperous and inclusive.
Consequently, we believe the future workplace, as it has always been, is not about humans vs. machines, but humans with machines. By embracing AI strategically, investing in our people, and fostering a culture of adaptability, we can create that future where technology empowers us all to achieve our full potential.
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