Analysis ·
170 million jobs created by 2030: what the World Economic Forum's figures say
92 million roles displaced, 170 million created, and nearly 40% of skills to rework. A reading of the figures, and of what they leave out.
For its 2025 Future of Jobs report, the World Economic Forum surveyed over 1,000 companies across 22 industries and 55 economies. According to these employers, 22% of jobs will be disrupted by 2030: 170 million roles created and 92 million displaced, a net gain of 78 million.
| Created | 170 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displaced | 92 | |
| Net gain | 78 |
The positive balance should not reassure too quickly. New roles are not in the same places, or for the same people, as the ones that disappear, and nearly 40% of the skills used at work are expected to change over the same period.
In technology, the fastest-growing skills are AI, big data, networks and cybersecurity. But the report also keeps human skills at the centre: analytical thinking, resilience, leadership and collaboration.
- 22 %Jobs disrupted by 2030
- 40 %Skills set to change (nearly)
- 63 %Employers held back by the skills gap
- 77 %Employers planning to upskill
For employers, this is the main barrier: 63% name the skills gap as their key obstacle, and 77% plan to upskill their staff. For someone in training, that sets a direction: learning a technique is not enough, you also need to judge a result, including an AI's.
One limit to keep in mind: these figures are global and rest on employers' forecasts. They do not describe Cameroon or any one African country, and do not replace a look at the local market you are aiming for.
