A recent World Economic Forum (WEF) survey revealed that 41% of employers plan to reduce their workforce due to the increasing automation of tasks by AI. The survey, which involved large companies from across the globe, also found that 77% of employers intend to invest in reskilling and upskilling their employees between 2025 and 2030 to help them adapt to working alongside AI. Unlike the 2023 report, which suggested that most technologies, including AI, would ultimately benefit job growth, this year’s findings do not project such a positive outlook.
The WEF highlighted how technological advances in AI and renewable energy are reshaping the labor market, leading to an increased demand for specialized roles while reducing the need for others, such as graphic designers. Saadia Zahidi, managing director at WEF, emphasized the significant impact of generative AI, which can produce original content like text and images, on transforming industries and job functions across various sectors.
A new report from the World Economic Forum highlights that certain jobs, such as postal service clerks, executive secretaries, and payroll clerks, are expected to see the fastest decline in the coming years, largely due to AI and other emerging trends. Notably, graphic designers and legal secretaries are now among the top roles facing decline, which is a new prediction in this year’s report, likely reflecting AI’s growing ability to handle tasks traditionally performed by humans in knowledge-based roles.
On the other hand, there is increasing demand for AI-related skills. Nearly 70% of companies plan to hire individuals with expertise in designing AI tools, while 62% are looking for workers who can effectively collaborate with AI.
The report offers a hopeful outlook, suggesting that the primary effect of technologies like generative AI on the workforce may be to enhance human abilities through collaboration with machines, rather than replacing workers outright. However, it also notes that some workers have already lost their jobs to AI, with companies like Dropbox and Duolingo citing AI as a reason for recent layoffs.