This equates to a net increase of 78 million jobs—equivalent to 7% of the global workforce.
The findings are based on insights from the WEF Future of Jobs Survey, which gathered employers’ expectations on roles likely to grow, decline, or remain stable over the next five years. Combined with employment estimates from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the report highlights the industries and occupations facing the biggest changes.
Key drivers of these shifts include technological advancements, the green transition, geo-economic fragmentation, and demographic changes, the report found.
However, not all industries are set to benefit—some roles are expected to thrive, while others may diminish or disappear entirely.
What are the fastest-growing jobs?
The fastest-growing jobs, measured by percentage increases in demand, are concentrated in industries fueled by technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and expanding digital access.
Leading the list, according to the Future of Jobs Survey, are roles such as big data specialists, fintech engineers, AI and machine learning specialists, and software and applications developers, with demand for each expected to grow by more than 80%.
Geo-economic trends are also spurring growth in security-related roles, such as security management specialists and information security analysts.
Sustainability-focused jobs are also seeing rapid expansion. Positions such as environmental engineers and renewable energy engineers, featured within the top 15 fastest-growing roles, are growing prompted by increased investments in reducing carbon emissions, adapting to climate change, and the adoption of energy storage and distribution technologies.
Other in-demand roles include software and applications developers, autonomous and electric vehicle specialists, and UI and UX designers.
Which jobs are most at risk of decline?
Not all roles are benefiting from these changes. Clerical and administrative jobs are among those hardest hit, largely due to the impact of automation and AI technologies.
Postal service clerks and bank tellers, for instance, are projected to shrink by over 25%. Similarly, positions such as administrative assistants, executive secretaries, cashiers, and ticket clerks are facing substantial declines, the report indicated.
Demographic trends, including aging populations and a shrinking working-age workforce, coupled with slower economic growth, are compounding challenges in these roles.
Printing and related trades workers, accounting and bookkeeping clerks, and legal officials are also among those expected to see significant reductions in employment.
What are the largest-growing and largest-declining jobs?
While fastest-growing jobs are measured by percentage increases in demand, the largest-growing and largest-declining jobs reflect the total number of jobs added or lost in absolute terms.
These predictions are calculated using a combination of employer survey data and ILO employment statistics.
Farmworkers, laborers, and other agricultural workers lead the largest-growing jobs, with 35 million new positions projected by 2030.
This growth is driven by green transition trends, including efforts to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to climate change. Broader factors such as increasing digital access and rising costs of living further contribute to this surge.
Other roles with large absolute increases include delivery drivers, building construction workers, and food processing workers. Aging populations are also fueling demand for nursing professionals, social work and counseling professionals, and personal care aides.
Conversely, the largest-declining roles closely mirror those identified as fastest-declining.
Clerical and administrative roles, such as administrative assistants, executive secretaries, cashiers, and ticket clerks, are among those seeing the greatest job losses in absolute terms, driven by automation and digitalization.
What does this mean for business school students?
For business school students, these trends point to a workforce increasingly shaped by technology and sustainability.
Fast-growing roles such as big data specialists, AI and machine learning experts, and fintech engineers signal a rising demand for graduates skilled in data analytics, digital transformation, and AI integration.
To meet this demand, business schools are integrating AI into their curriculums, including recent initiatives such as the partnership between The Wharton School and OpenAI and AI in business courses at MIT Sloan School of Management.
These trends align with the broader decline of clerical and other non-business roles as workplace demands shift toward technology-driven expertise—highlighting the enduring relevance of core skills taught at business school.
