Sectors expected to experience the highest growth included agriculture, logistics, and technology.
The global job market was facing a seismic shift, with traditional education models increasingly struggling to keep pace with technological disruption and rapidly evolving workforce needs. In a recent post on social media, Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath captured the urgency of this transformation. “The days of 4-year college courses are over. Lifelong learning is the new norm, for everyone,” Kamath wrote.
His remarks followed the release of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Future of Jobs Report 2025, which warned of widening skill gaps, rising automation, and large-scale disruption across sectors by the end of the decade. According to the report, millions of workers globally risk being left behind if upskilling and reskilling efforts are not prioritised immediately.
Such an interesting question: “What jobs will be relevant in 10 years?”
Personally, I think the days of 4-year college courses are over, lifelong learning is the new norm, for everyone… pic.twitter.com/sk3m7vfjR4— Nikhil Kamath (@nikhilkamathcio) June 26, 2025
One of the key findings of the WEF report was the critical need for continuous upskilling. While 75% of employers were confident in their ability to enhance the skills of their existing workforce, 38% admitted concerns about the capabilities of new hires. Despite this growing emphasis on reskilling, the report estimated that one in nine workers—approximately 11%—would not receive any training by 2030.
Of every 100 workers in the global labour force, the WEF projected that: 41 would not need upskilling, 29 would be trained to stay in their current roles, 19 would be reskilled to transition into new roles, and 11 would be excluded from training altogether.
This skill mismatch came amid forecasts that 39% of core job skills—including leadership, analytical thinking, and creativity—would become obsolete by 2030. Countries such as Egypt (48%), UAE (41%), and India (38%) were expected to experience the highest rates of skill obsolescence.
The report revealed that 63% of global employers were already experiencing the adverse effects of these talent gaps on their business operations.
To address the crisis, companies around the world were investing in future-focused skill development. The WEF identified the top 10 skill areas poised for the fastest growth by 2030:
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Artificial Intelligence and Big Data
Cybersecurity
Technological Literacy
Creative Thinking
Resilience
Lifelong Learning
Leadership
Talent Management
Analytical Thinking
Environmental Stewardship
Kamath’s call for lifelong learning aligned with this trend. His statement reflected a broader move away from static degrees towards dynamic, on-the-job learning and skill evolution.
The influence of automation on the job market was expected to accelerate. The share of tasks performed by machines was projected to rise from 22% in 2024 to 34% by 2030. Human contributions would drop from 48% to 33%, with the remainder managed through human-machine collaboration.
In response, 77% of employers planned to reskill existing staff, and 69% intended to hire developers skilled in AI tools. However, 41% were also considering downsizing roles that could not adapt to new technological requirements.
Despite the upheaval, the report predicted net job growth. While 92 million roles were likely to be displaced, 170 million new jobs were expected to emerge by 2030, resulting in a net gain of 78 million jobs—a 7% increase globally.
Sectors expected to experience the highest growth included agriculture, logistics, and technology. Roles such as farmworkers, delivery drivers, and software developers were among those forecast to see the greatest rise in demand.
Conversely, clerical and mechanical roles, including cashiers, secretaries, and administrative staff, were likely to decline as automation advanced.
India featured prominently in the report for its commitment to inclusive hiring practices. While 83% of global employers had implemented Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, India led the field with 95% of companies engaging in DEI initiatives.
Among Indian employers:
76% were focused on including more women,
56% supported the inclusion of people with disabilities,
52% targeted Gen Z youth,
and 42% sought to create opportunities for older workers.
The shift to a green economy was also expected to generate employment. Around 34 million agricultural jobs were forecast to emerge as sustainable farming practices gained traction. Simultaneously, demand for environmentally responsible innovation was set to rise, contributing to the increasing relevance of environmental stewardship as a key skill.