The Digital Transformation Playbook
Kieran Gilmurray is a globally recognised authority on Artificial Intelligence, intelligent automation, data analytics, agentic AI, leadership development and digital transformation.
He has authored four influential books and hundreds of articles that have shaped industry perspectives on digital transformation, data analytics, intelligent automation, agentic AI, leadership and artificial intelligence.
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The Digital Transformation Playbook
Future of Work Unveiled: Navigating Macro Trends and Workforce Transformation by 2030
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Could nearly 60% of the global workforce require retraining by 2030?
Discover the insights from the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 as we unpack the dramatic shifts in the employment landscape. We're breaking down the five macro trends that act like the tectonic plates of our economy: expanding digital access, economic unpredictability, the shift towards green energy, demographic changes, and rising geoeconomic fragmentation. These trends are not just abstract concepts; they are actively shaping the opportunities and challenges in the job market, influencing everything from the types of jobs available to where they will emerge.
The Future of Jobs Report 2025 reveals significant changes in the global job market influenced by technology, economic uncertainty, and demographic factors. Listeners are encouraged to focus on adaptability, reskilling, and lifelong learning to thrive in this rapidly evolving landscape.
• Digital access is transforming job opportunities worldwide
• Economic uncertainty poses planning challenges for businesses and workers
• The green transition is creating jobs in sustainability sectors
• Demographic shifts alter the workforce distribution and roles
• AI and automation are changing job demands and leading to skills retraining
• Key skills for future success include analytical thinking and resilience
• Workers need to embrace lifelong learning to navigate change
• Collaboration on reskilling initiatives is essential for workforce development
Join us as we explore how increased digital access is serving as the foundation for a burgeoning digital economy, unlocking new opportunities for customers, employees, and entrepreneurs worldwide. We also take a closer look at how economic uncertainties and global tensions are impacting business planning and operations. With the green transition promising a wave of new jobs and demographic shifts altering workforce dynamics, it's clear that we're on the cusp of a significant transformation. Tune in to understand these macro trends and gain insights into the future of work, preparing yourself for the changes ahead.
The Future of Jobs Report 2025 | World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum's 2025 Future of Jobs Report analyses how macrotrends and technological advancements will reshape global labor markets through 2030. It examines five key macrotrends—technological change, the green transition, geo-economic fragmentation, economic uncertainty, and demographic shifts—and their impact on job creation and displacement. The report projects significant job growth overall but also highlights emerging skills gaps and the need for substantial workforce reskilling and upskilling. It further explores employer strategies for adapting to these changes, including investments in training and wage adjustments, and offers regional, economic, and industry-specific insights. Finally, it emphasizes the continued importance of human-centered skills alongside technological proficiency.
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Right, so we're diving into this World Economic Forum report.
Speaker 2Yeah, the Future of Jobs Report 2025.
Speaker 12025.
Speaker 2That's right.
Speaker 1And you know this thing's pretty dense, but we're going to break it down.
Speaker 2Absolutely.
Speaker 1It looks at the global job market projects out to 2030.
Speaker 2Yeah, all the way to 2030.
Speaker 1And it's based on a survey of over a thousand employers worldwide.
Speaker 2Yeah, a really comprehensive data set gives us a glimpse into what's coming.
Speaker 1And some of this stuff is pretty wild, like, for example, almost 60% of the global workforce might need retraining by 2030.
Speaker 2Yeah, retraining, upskilling huge numbers.
Speaker 1Yeah, big changes coming.
Speaker 2It really highlights how fast things are changing in the job market.
Speaker 1Okay. So before we get into the nitty gritty Sure, let's take a step back.
Speaker 2Big picture.
Speaker 1And talk about the big picture Right. The report talks about five major forces shaping the job landscape.
Speaker 2They call them macro trends.
Speaker 1Macro trends? Yeah, what are these things?
Speaker 2So think of them as like the tectonic plates of the global economy.
Speaker 1OK.
Speaker 2Shifting beneath our feet, shaping everything, OK, I'm intrigued.
Speaker 1Lay it on me.
Speaker 2All right. So the first one this is maybe the most surprising is the broadening of digital access.
Speaker 1Digital access.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1More so than AI.
Speaker 2Yeah, the report actually identifies that as the most transformative trend.
Speaker 1That's interesting because you hear so much about AI. Oh, absolutely, but think about it so much about AI?
Speaker 2Oh, absolutely, but think about it. As more people come online all over the world, you're opening up this huge pool of customers, employees, entrepreneurs.
Speaker 1Yeah, I see what you mean.
Speaker 2It's game changing for every industry.
Speaker 1Yeah, it's like the foundation for the future.
Speaker 2Exactly. It's like laying the groundwork for a whole new digital economy. A whole new digital economy, yeah, and that's just one of the five.
Speaker 1Okay, what's number two?
Speaker 2Number two is economic uncertainty.
Speaker 1Okay.
Speaker 2So things like rising cost of living.
Speaker 1Yeah, we're all feeling that.
Speaker 2Exactly potential slowdowns in economic growth.
Speaker 1Makes it hard to plan for the future.
Speaker 2Absolutely, and that uncertainty is really tied to the third macro trend, which is the green transition.
Speaker 1Okay, so we're talking about, like sustainability and Sustainability, renewable energy, all that. Right.
Speaker 2As the world shifts towards more sustainable practices, we're seeing these massive investments.
Speaker 1Yeah, so that's creating jobs, I imagine.
Speaker 2Creating a ton of new jobs in those sectors, absolutely. And the fourth one is the fourth trend is demographic shifts.
Speaker 1Okay.
Speaker 2So we're talking aging populations in some parts of the world, booming working age populations in others.
Speaker 1So it's not just the types of jobs.
Speaker 2Right.
Speaker 1But where they are.
Speaker 2Yeah, it's going to have a big impact on where the jobs are and who's filling them.
Speaker 1It's like a big game of musical chairs.
Speaker 2That's a great way to put it Everyone trying to find their place, yeah. Everyone trying to find their place. Yeah, and then, finally, we have the fifth macro trend.
Speaker 1Okay, hear me.
Speaker 2Geoeconomic fragmentation. Geoeconomic fragmentation Okay that sounds a little scary, it sounds intimidating, but essentially it refers to the increasing global tensions and conflicts. Oh, okay, so we're talking like trade wars and yeah, trade wars, political instability, all those things that make it harder for businesses to operate globally.
Speaker 1Right Disrupt supply chains.
Speaker 2Absolutely, it's all connected.
Speaker 1So we've got these five macro trends and they all kind of play off of each other.
Speaker 2Exactly, they're all interconnected.
Speaker 1It's like a big, complex system.
Speaker 2It is a complex system.
Speaker 1Okay, so we need to keep those in mind as we look at everything else.
Speaker 2Absolutely. These trends are kind of the foundation for all the other predictions in the report.
Speaker 1The foundation OK.
Speaker 2Yeah, it's important to understand them before we dive deeper.
Speaker 1All right. So we talked about digital access being this massive transformative force.
Speaker 2Right. Can you give me some concrete examples of how that's actually playing out. Sure, so one of the biggest impacts we're seeing is this accelerated adoption of new technologies Like AI and robotics.
Speaker 1Is this accelerated adoption of new technologies Like AI and robotics?
Speaker 2AI, robotics, data analytics all becoming more accessible, more affordable.
Speaker 1Because of the digital infrastructure.
Speaker 2Exactly, digital access is like the key that unlocks the door to all these other advancements.
Speaker 1It makes them possible.
Speaker 2Absolutely, and that leads to big changes in the types of jobs that are in demand.
Speaker 1And the report actually looks at that right.
Speaker 2Oh yeah, the report dives deep into which jobs are expected to grow.
Speaker 1Okay.
Speaker 2And which are heading towards obsolescence.
Speaker 1Okay, let's start with the good news. What are the hot jobs of the future?
Speaker 2All right. So, as you might expect, tech-heavy roles are dominating the growth charts.
Speaker 1Tech All right. So, as you might expect, tech heavy roles are dominating the growth charts. Tech, yeah that makes sense.
Speaker 2But it's not just about coding anymore. It's more specialized.
Speaker 1More specialized.
Speaker 2Like the top five fastest growing job titles are all in things like AI, machine learning, fintech.
Speaker 1Fintech yeah, that's a hot area.
Speaker 2It is, and they all require a blend of technical skills and problem solving.
Speaker 1So you got to be able to think, not just code, absolutely. What are those top five jobs?
Speaker 2So we're looking at AI and machine learning specialists, fintech engineers, big data specialists, software and application developers and security management specialists.
Speaker 1Okay, so if you can speak computer, you're in good shape.
Speaker 2If you can speak computer and solve problems, yeah, your future looks bright.
Speaker 1Bright. What else? What other sectors are booming?
Speaker 2Green jobs are also exploding right now.
Speaker 1Green jobs. Yeah, because of the whole sustainability thing.
Speaker 2Exactly as the world invests more in sustainability, those roles are in high demand.
Speaker 1Like what? What kind of specific jobs?
Speaker 2So some of the fastest growing ones autonomous and electric vehicle specialists, environmental engineers, renewable energy engineers.
Speaker 1So, basically, if you can help businesses adapt to a more digital and sustainable future, You're in high demand. You are in high demand. Ok, but now for the not so good news.
Speaker 2Right the flip side of that.
Speaker 1Some jobs are fading fast.
Speaker 2That's right, and it's largely due to automation.
Speaker 1Automation. Those robots are coming for us.
Speaker 2Well, it's not so much about robots taking jobs. It's more about how automation is changing the nature of work.
Speaker 1Okay, so what jobs are on the jobbing block?
Speaker 2The top five declining job titles are cashiers, ticket clerks, administrative assistants, printing workers and accountants and auditors.
Speaker 1It's not just blue-collar jobs.
Speaker 2No, it's across the board.
Speaker 1It's white-collar too.
Speaker 2Exactly. That's one of the key takeaways here Automation is impacting every sector.
Speaker 1So even if my job title isn't on that declining list, my day-to-day work could still be changing a lot.
Speaker 2Absolutely, and that's why it's so important to focus on those skills that will be in demand in this new world of work.
Speaker 1Which is what we're going to get into next.
Speaker 2Exactly. It's really interesting how the report emphasizes it's not just about specific jobs.
Speaker 1Right.
Speaker 2It's about the skills you need.
Speaker 1So we need to be more adaptable, like a Swiss army knife.
Speaker 2That's a great analogy. You got it Ready for anything and the report actually breaks down the core skills that are essential for workers today. Okay, what are they? Number one is analytical thinking.
Speaker 1Analytical thinking, so being able to solve problems, spot patterns, make good decisions.
Speaker 2Exactly, being able to sift through information, assess situations, come up with solutions.
Speaker 1Yeah, that makes sense In a world that's getting more complex.
Speaker 2It's crucial across so many roles.
Speaker 1Absolutely. What else is on that list?
Speaker 2So, right after analytical thinking, they've grouped together resilience, flexibility and agility.
Speaker 1Oh interesting. So it's not enough to just be smart, right, you also need to be able to adapt. You got to roll with the punches.
Speaker 2Roll with the punches. Yeah, things are changing so fast.
Speaker 1Exactly, and then rounding out the top five yeah, we have leadership and social influence.
Speaker 2Ah, so it's not just about working on your own, nope, you got to be able to work with others.
Speaker 1You got to inspire, collaborate, get things done as a team.
Speaker 2Teamwork makes the dream work, as they say.
Speaker 1Exactly Now. Here's what's really fascinating. Ok tell me. The report also projects which skills are going to be even more important by 2030.
Speaker 2OK, so which skills should we be focusing on?
Speaker 1You won't be surprised to hear. The top three are AI and big data networks, and cybersecurity and technological literacy.
Speaker 2So tech skills are still king.
Speaker 1Still king, but don't discount those Soster skills.
Speaker 2The interpersonal skills, the adaptability.
Speaker 1Those are gaining traction too. Creative thinking is high on the list.
Speaker 2Creative thinking yeah.
Speaker 1And that curiosity, that drive for lifelong learning. Those are crucial.
Speaker 2So you got to be a lifelong learner.
Speaker 1Lifelong learner, always adapting.
Speaker 2What about those resilience, flexibility, agility skills? You guessed it. Those are going to be even more important.
Speaker 1So employers aren't just looking for robots who can code, nope, they want people who can think creatively. They want well-rounded individuals, solve problems, work with others.
Speaker 2Absolutely, and here's a fascinating contrast.
Speaker 1Okay, what is it?
Speaker 2Physical abilities are the only skill category expected to decline in importance. Oh interesting, probably due to those automation trends.
Speaker 1Right If a machine can do it.
Speaker 2Exactly. Humans don't need to, so the premium is really shifting toward those uniquely human skills.
Speaker 1Creativity, problem solving, emotional intelligence.
Speaker 2Exactly the stuff machines can't do.
Speaker 1Yet Right Now. You mentioned earlier that 59 out of 100 workers might need training by 2030. Yeah, that's a big number. That's a lot of people. Where do we even begin?
Speaker 2Well, let's break it down.
Speaker 1Okay.
Speaker 2It's a mix of upskilling, gaining new skills to level up in your current role.
Speaker 1Right, so some people can stay where they are.
Speaker 2Exactly current role, right. So some people can stay where they are Exactly.
Speaker 1And then there's reskilling, learning, entirely new skills for a different role, so some people might need to make a bigger change.
Speaker 2Right, and the report actually shows what this might look like for a group of 100 workers.
Speaker 1Ok, Walk me through it.
Speaker 2So out of those 129 could upskill in their current role.
Speaker 1OK.
Speaker 2And another 19 could upskill and move to a new position within their company.
Speaker 1So almost half could stay with their current employer.
Speaker 2That's right, but sadly 11 out of those 100 probably won't get the training they need.
Speaker 1Oh, so their jobs are at risk.
Speaker 2Potentially yeah, and then the remaining 41 wouldn't need any retraining at all.
Speaker 1Okay, so that's the breakdown.
Speaker 2That's how it could shake out at all.
Speaker 1Okay, so that's the breakdown. That's how it could shake out. But who's going to pay for all this training?
Speaker 2That's the million-dollar question.
Speaker 1Right? Is it going to fall on individuals or will companies help out?
Speaker 2Well, the report indicates that most companies plan to rely mainly on their own resources.
Speaker 1Oh.
Speaker 2To fund training, they'll also use free training programs and maybe some government support.
Speaker 1So it's a mix of public and private investment.
Speaker 2Exactly Makes sense, given how big of a challenge this is. No-transcript. So they're aiming for a few things Like what? Increased productivity, competitiveness those are high on the list.
Speaker 1Makes sense.
Speaker 2But they also want to improve talent retention, keep their skilled employees happy and loyal, right.
Speaker 1You got to keep your good people.
Speaker 2And make it easier for employees to move into new roles within the company.
Speaker 1So it's not just about profits.
Speaker 2No, it's about investing in their workforce.
Speaker 1Investing in people Exactly. It's becoming essential for companies to survive, and succeed, especially in this fast changing world, absolutely.
Speaker 2And that brings us to the elephant in the room.
Speaker 1What's that?
Speaker 2The AI revolution.
Speaker 1Ah yes, the robots are coming for our jobs. Part two. But you said earlier that AI is also creating new opportunities.
Speaker 2It is. It's a complex situation.
Speaker 1So how are companies dealing with this AI thing? The most popular approach is reskilling and upskilling existing employees to work with a to work alongside AI exactly so it's not humans versus machines, no, it's humans and machines working together that's it leveraging AI to enhance human capabilities to make us better and here's where it gets really interesting okay, I'm listening 40% of companies are planning to completely change their business models. Because of AI.
Speaker 2To capitalize on the opportunities created by AI.
Speaker 1Wow, that's a big shift.
Speaker 2It's forcing businesses to rethink what they do and how they do it.
Speaker 1So it's changing entire industries.
Speaker 2Absolutely. It creates a whole new set of challenges and opportunities.
Speaker 1Okay, my head's spinning a bit, but before we get too deep into, that I want to talk about wages.
Speaker 2Wages yeah.
Speaker 1Are we all going to end up working harder for less money?
Speaker 2That's a common concern.
Speaker 1It is.
Speaker 2But the report offers some reassurance.
Speaker 1Okay, good.
Speaker 2Over half of the employers plan to allocate more of their revenue to wages by 2030.
Speaker 1Okay, so wages are going up.
Speaker 2And only a small percentage expect a decrease.
Speaker 1That's good news it is.
Speaker 2It's a positive trend.
Speaker 1What's driving that?
Speaker 2Well, companies realize that to attract and retain top talent, Right, you got to stay competitive. They need to offer competitive salaries.
Speaker 1So it's about rewarding employees and staying ahead of the curve. What about things like government regulations and unions?
Speaker 2Those play a role too.
Speaker 1Right. They help ensure fair wages.
Speaker 2Absolutely.
Speaker 1Okay, so we've covered a lot of ground here.
Speaker 2We have.
Speaker 1It's a lot to process, but I'm feeling more excited than scared.
Speaker 2That's great.
Speaker 1There are opportunities out there.
Speaker 2Lots of opportunities.
Speaker 1If you're willing to be adaptable.
Speaker 2That's the key takeaway, and embrace lifelong learning. The future of work is all about adaptability.
Speaker 1So, before we wrap up, sure, what does all of this mean for our listeners?
Speaker 2That's a great question.
Speaker 1Yeah.
Speaker 2Ultimately, each listener needs to answer that for themselves.
Speaker 1Based on their own situation.
Speaker 2Exactly, but here's the core message the job market is changing fast.
Speaker 1Because of technology.
Speaker 2Technology, environmental concerns, global shifts.
Speaker 1But it's not all bad news, not at all. New opportunities are emerging.
Speaker 2The key is to be adaptable, proactive.
Speaker 1So how can people prepare for this future of work?
Speaker 2The first step is self-reflection.
Speaker 1Okay, look inward.
Speaker 2Think about your skills, your interests.
Speaker 1What are you good at?
Speaker 2What do you enjoy? What are you passionate about learning.
Speaker 1Yeah, what are you excited about?
Speaker 2Once you understand your strengths and aspirations, you can start exploring opportunities.
Speaker 1That align with those.
Speaker 2Exactly.
Speaker 1So self-awareness is key.
Speaker 2Self-awareness is the foundation.
Speaker 1The foundation for action.
Speaker 2It's about understanding your unique value and then leveraging that in a changing world.
Speaker 1So you've done some soul searching, you've got some ideas. Where do you go from there?
Speaker 2Well, there are tons of resources out there.
Speaker 1Okay, like what? Where can people find this stuff?
Speaker 2Online professional organizations even at the local level.
Speaker 1Okay, that's good to know. Online professional organizations, even at the local level Okay, that's good to know. Are there any specific initiatives that?
Speaker 2you'd recommend. Actually, the World Economic Forum has this great initiative called the Reskilling Revolution.
Speaker 1Reskilling Revolution. That sounds pretty intense.
Speaker 2It is In a good way. It's this global coalition.
Speaker 1Oh wow, so it's not just one organization.
Speaker 2No, it's governments, businesses, educational institutions, all coming together.
Speaker 1To do what?
Speaker 2To make reskilling and upskilling more accessible.
Speaker 1To everyone.
Speaker 2To everyone exactly. They offer all sorts of programs, tools, resources.
Speaker 1So people can find the skills they need.
Speaker 2Identify in-demand skills. Find training opportunities.
Speaker 1Even connect with employers.
Speaker 2Yeah, it's really about connecting people with the right opportunities.
Speaker 1That's awesome. It's good to see that kind of collaboration.
Speaker 2It is. It shows that this isn't just an individual problem.
Speaker 1It's a global thing.
Speaker 2It's a societal challenge. We need to work together to solve it.
Speaker 1Now I know some people are feeling a little overwhelmed by all this.
Speaker 2Yeah, it's a lot to take in.
Speaker 1Anxious even. What advice would you give them?
Speaker 2Well, the best antidote to anxiety is action.
Speaker 1Don't just sit there and worry Exactly.
Speaker 2Channel that energy into something positive Like learning new skills, learning, exploring. Don't get stuck in that worry cycle.
Speaker 1So take some online courses, go to events.
Speaker 2Yeah, reach out to people in fields you're interested in.
Speaker 1Network Learn as much as you can.
Speaker 2The more you learn, the less intimidating it all seems.
Speaker 1Knowledge is power.
Speaker 2It really is. And remember, you don't have to figure everything out at once.
Speaker 1It's a journey.
Speaker 2Take it one step at a time.
Speaker 1This report really makes you think. It does Not just about the skills, but about the nature of those skills.
Speaker 2Right Like, can you really teach things like resilience and creativity?
Speaker 1Yeah, are those things you're born with, or can you learn them?
Speaker 2That's a tough question. It is I think it's a bit of both nature and nurture.
Speaker 1So we all have some natural abilities.
Speaker 2Right, but we can also develop them through practice and experience.
Speaker 1So we're not just stuck with what we're born with.
Speaker 2Exactly, we have the capacity to learn and grow throughout our lives.
Speaker 1That's empowering.
Speaker 2It is. It means we have agency. We can shape our own destinies.
Speaker 1Even in a world that's changing so fast.
Speaker 2Especially in a world that's changing so fast.
Speaker 1We can't just rely on the skills we have today.
Speaker 2Oh, we need to keep learning, keep adapting.
Speaker 1To thrive in the future of work.
Speaker 2That's the key.
Speaker 1All right. So on that note of empowerment and adaptability, yeah. We want to hear from you, our listeners. What are your thoughts on all this?
Speaker 2Do you think resilience and creativity can be taught?
Speaker 1What are you doing to prepare for the future of work?
Speaker 2Share your thoughts with us on social media.
Speaker 1We want to keep this conversation going.
Speaker 2Let's learn from each other.
Speaker 1Support each other.
Speaker 2Navigate these exciting times together.
Speaker 1Thanks for joining us on this deep dive into the future of work.
Speaker 2It's been a pleasure.
Speaker 1Until next time, stay curious and keep learning.