The Fourth Industrial Revolution is no longer on the horizon. It is here, changing industries, creating new roles, and making others obsolete. Automation, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and advanced manufacturing are redefining work and economic growth worldwide.
The Future of Jobs Report 2025 projects that 92 million jobs will be displaced by 2030, equal to 8 percent of today's workforce. Broader digital access could displace 9.1 million jobs. Advances in AI and information processing are expected to remove another 9.1 million. Robotics and autonomous systems are set to have the largest impact, with 5.5 million jobs lost. In this environment, skills will be the deciding factor between opportunity and exclusion. Without digital competencies, workers risk being pushed into low-quality employment.
Some regions are acting fast. European countries are investing heavily to prepare their citizens, particularly young people, for the jobs of the future. Africa, however, still lags in building the needed skills.
