2030 Job Market Forecast: The Skills And Roles You’ll Need

Imagine training for a job that doesn’t exist yet.

That’s the challenge many workers face today. The jobs of tomorrow won’t just call for new skills—they’ll demand a new mindset. In a shifting economy powered by AI and innovation, how we think, adapt and solve problems may matter more than what we already know.

“To prepare for careers that don’t yet exist, individuals must nurture flexibility, rapid adaptability and insatiable curiosity,” says Frederic Miskawi, vice president at CGI, an IT and business consulting firm. “In a future driven by AI and robotics, change won’t just accelerate, it will compound.”

By 2030, 92 million jobs will disappear, but 170 million new ones will emerge, according to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2025 Future of Jobs Report. That’s a net gain of 78 million jobs, but more than half of today’s workers will need to acclimate to stay employable.

AI, automation and climate shifts are transforming industries, creating demand for roles that didn’t exist a decade ago.

170 Million Jobs Ahead, but Change Is Coming

From healthcare and renewable energy to AI oversight and cybersecurity, the job market is entering its remix era. Some careers will vanish, others will evolve and entirely new ones will be born. According to the WEF, healthcare, education and sustainability are expected to see major expansion by 2030, while administrative support, retail and customer service roles continue a slow decline.

“Roles primarily defined by repetitive tasks can already be automated today,” says Ric Lebre, professor of GenAI for Business at the Link School in Brazil. He points to back-office jobs, telemarketers and entry-level sales as some of the first to be replaced by automation.

At the same time, the need for AI oversight is growing. Companies are hiring chief AI officers, AI ethics specialists and AI system evaluators, according to Kristin Hunter, VP of marketing at Druid AI. These roles focus on ensuring AI is used responsibly, fairly and efficiently, rather than letting algorithms run unchecked.

According to analysis by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, emerging job trends over the next few years are careers that demand critical thinking, versatility and tech fluency. Meanwhile, task-based roles are steadily disappearing.

Wind turbine technicians and solar panel installers lead the growth list, driven by the clean energy boom. The Inflation Reduction Act and global climate policies are driving job creation, creating high-paying roles in sustainability that require new skills but no college degree.

Healthcare is another major growth area, with jobs like nurse practitioners and physician assistants expected to increase by more than 25%. As populations age, the demand for medical specialists will increase significantly.

Sarah Hoffman, director of research, AI at AlphaSense, notes that AI is enhancing productivity in medical fields, but rather than replacing human doctors or nurses, AI tools are allowing professionals to spend more time on patient care by automating administrative tasks.

“Rather than viewing AI as a threat to jobs, it’s more valuable to look at how it is causing our roles to evolve,” Hoffman says.

On the other hand, office roles focused on repetition, such as typists, data entry clerks and switchboard operators, are shrinking fast, with some declining by nearly 40%.

Fastest-Growing Jobs Through 2033

Fastest-Declining Jobs Through 2033

The Skills That Will Define the Workforce of 2030

Many of the most in-demand jobs of the next decade won’t require a traditional degree—they’ll demand sharp skills and flexible thinking. The WEF lists analytical thinking and creative problem-solving as the two most critical competencies by 2030. AI can automate routine tasks and generate reports but can’t replicate human intuition, leadership or ethical judgment.

Rachel Dzombak, distinguished service professor of design and innovation at Carnegie Mellon University, emphasized the growing need for AI fluency and critical thinking.

“With AI handling more tasks, the ability to evaluate AI outputs and make higher-order decisions is crucial,” she says. Workers who can effectively verify, refine and apply AI tools will be sought after.

Carmel Majidi, a mechanical engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon, encourages a shift in career planning.

“It’s helpful to think not in terms of specific jobs, but in terms of skills and capabilities that are likely to be resilient,” he says.

Rather than chasing titles, workers should focus on how tools and technologies function and where human judgment still matters most. Roles that rely on human interaction, physical dexterity or complex moral decision-making, such as those in healthcare, are harder to automate and likely to stay essential.

According to the WEF, these five core skills will define the workforce of the future:

• AI and data literacy: Understanding how automation and machine learning affect different industries
• Adaptability and resilience: Thriving in a workforce that will require constant upskilling
• Leadership and social influence: Managing teams and making decisions in increasingly digital workplaces
• Creativity and problem-solving: Identifying opportunities where AI falls short
• Curiosity and lifelong learning: Staying ahead of shifts in technology and job expectations

How To Get Ready Now for the Future of Work

Worried your job might get vaporized by 2030? You’re not alone. The WEF says 59% of workers will need new training by then—but not all of it requires going back to school or dropping $80,000 on a degree. The good news is you don’t need to be a data scientist or software engineer to future-proof your career; you just need to be curious, flexible and willing to gain skills that actually matter in a changing job market.

“It’s not about technology taking over,” says Hunter. “It’s about using AI to amplify human potential and create opportunities.”

The best way to prepare is to experiment with AI tools, take advantage of online learning and stay ahead of industry changes. If you’re looking to get familiar with AI, we’ve compiled a list of popular tools used across different industries where the technology is already making an impact.

• Marketing and content creation:
  Tools like Jasper, Copy.ai and SurferSEO can assist with drafting emails, blog posts and ad copy, but they still require human oversight to shape tone, accuracy and strategy. Many marketers also lean on Canva’s AI features to speed up graphic design, though final decisions often come down to branding needs and creative direction.

• Healthcare:
  AI-powered platforms such as Aidoc and Butterfly Network assist with early diagnoses and medical imaging, while tools like Doximity help doctors stay connected and informed.

• Finance:
  Apps like Kensho, AlphaSense and Upstart help analyze market trends, assess credit risk or speed up financial research using natural language processing and predictive modeling.

• Retail and customer service:
  Many companies use Zendesk AI and Forethought to handle customer support tickets, while Shopify Magic helps small businesses write product descriptions and respond to customer chats faster.

• Education:
  Teachers are using tools like Khanmigo (powered by GPT-4), QuillBot and Diffit to customize learning materials, provide grammar help and simplify complex topics for students of all levels. Tools like Socratic by Google can also help students get unstuck on homework.

• Technology and software development:
  Coders are leaning on tools like GitHub Copilot, Tabnine and Replit Ghostwriter to speed up programming, debug code and brainstorm new ways to structure projects.

• Creative arts and design:
  Artists and creatives are using Runway ML and DALL·E for visuals, Soundraw or Aiva for generating music and Runway’s Gen-2 for editing or generating short films. Writers are exploring tools like Sudowrite to brainstorm characters or plot twists.

YouTube, Coursera and LinkedIn Learning offer low-cost or free courses on tools like ChatGPT, Excel automation, Canva, prompt engineering, basic Python or AI ethics.

Some platforms, such as Google Career Certificates and IBM SkillsBuild, offer programs tailored to specific careers without requiring advanced degrees, such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

You don’t need to start over in a new field. But staying open to change, harnessing new skills and building on what you already know can help you grow with the job market as it evolves. Experts say the future of work is already taking shape, and there’s still time to find your place in it.