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The 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, which took place from January 20 to 24 served as a platform for world leaders to discuss one of today's most pressing concerns: the future of work. Under the theme of "Investing in People," the discussions focused on transforming careers and the workforce amidst massive technological shifts, demographics, and sustainability.
The Future of Jobs Report 2025 painted a vivid picture of the coming transformation. By 2030, nearly a quarter of current jobs will undergo structural changes, creating 170 million new roles while displacing 92 million. That is an eyebrow-raising number. While emerging sectors like engineering, electric vehicle technology, and the green economy are ready for growth, traditional jobs will face a gradual decline due to automation and artificial intelligence (AI).
One can take this change as an opportunity to position oneself to something better in a career. Speakers in Davos 2025 talked about the need to adapt rather than resist. As Ivanka Trump stated, "We have to think about skills-based learning, as opposed to purely credentials... Employers care about the skills."
The Forum agreed that tomorrow's workforce will thrive on resilience, flexibility, technological literacy, and agility. Along with these technical skills, soft skills like communication and adaptability remain irreplaceable.
Robert E Moritz, global chairman of PwC, shared the importance of continuous learning and stated, "The mindset of continuous learning is really important as the number one skill set for our teachers learning how to teach and for our students learning how to learn."
AI takes centre stage in many discussions, with leaders challenging the narrative of AI as a job destroyer. Instead, they portrayed it as a powerful tool for augmentation.
Ginni Rometty, chairman and CEO of IBM, articulated this balance by saying, "You have to value skills and not just degrees. You have to have new education models and new pathways to get people retrained and back into the workforce."
Changes in the demographics of the people emerged as another key topic. High-income countries face a surge in demand for healthcare roles due to ageing populations, while low-income nations must expand education-related professions to meet the needs of growing working-age populations.
Saadia Zahidi, managing director of WEF, addressed this dual challenge stating, "How do we ensure that
people have pathways to social mobility? One of the most important ways to do that is to ensure that people have the right education, the right skills, and the right jobs."The Forum also highlighted the importance of diversity and gender equality in driving economic success. The Gender Parity Sprint initiative aims to close the gender gap in economic participation by 2030. According to studies presented at the conference, diverse teams perform better –organisationally and financially.
In this context, Professor Muhammad Yunus articulated a powerful perspective on the role of women in economic development:"If the goals of economic development include improving the general standard of living, reducing poverty, creating dignified employment opportunities, and reducing inequality, then it is natural to work through women." He noted addressing gender inequality is essential for achieving comprehensive economic development.
Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO of Salesforce, issued a direct challenge to attendees: "If you are attending this conference, you need to commit to job training. If you are attending this conference, you need to commit to reskilling."
As sustainability moves from aspiration to necessity, the demand for "green skills" is skyrocketing. The supply of talent with these skills lags currently. Workforce development initiatives must step up to bridge this gap, ensuring workers are prepared for jobs tied to clean energy, conservation, and sustainable practices. Bangladeshi professionals can consider building a career in these less-explored domains as the opportunities are global.
The discussions at Davos 2025 were a call to action for governments and businesses. It is imperative to
prioritise sustainability, diversity, and reskilling to stay relevant in a world that is changing quickly.
The Forum's main message was adapting to the future of work isn't just about surviving change but seizing the opportunities it gives us. Whether through reshaping education systems, honing continuous learning, or championing inclusivity, the pathway to success requires collaboration across all sectors and communities.
Marc Benioff aptly put it, "Reskilling is not optional; it is essential."