We all know the buzzword bingo: AI, automation, disruption, future of work. But let's cut through the noise for a second. Sure, AI will have a major impact on the future of work, but what about the important part - the human part? The World Economic Forum just shared its biennial Future of Jobs Report (➀ Future of Jobs Report 2025), and it surfaces interesting insights into the evolving role of human skills in the modern workforce as we move toward this new era of augmented capabilities.
If you are looking for some bedtime reading, this report caters to 290 compounding pages of in-depth statistics and intricate extrapolations based on data from 1,000+ companies and 14 million workers. If this risks getting you excited, here are the de-caffeinated rundown and key takeaways.
The report tells us:
170M new jobs will emerge, but 92M will disappear by 2027. (That's a massive reshuffle!)
- 170M new jobs will emerge, but 92M will disappear by 2027. (That's a massive reshuffle!)
- 39% of our current skills will become obsolete. (Time to get ahead of the curve.)
- And yes, AI is a huge disruptor, but so are climate goals, ESG, and changing demographics.
This might sound a bit scary at first, but as with past industrial revolutions, this evolution has the potential to greatly enhance our quality of life and allow us to shift more of our time to more meaningful and fulfilling things. So here is something that caught my attention and personally got me excited.
Have a look at this chart ⤵
Notice something interesting? While AI and tech skills are skyrocketing, so are things like resilience, creative thinking, and lifelong learning. It's a clear message: technical skills get you in the door, but human adaptability keeps you relevant.
Looking at the full quadrant, you could even argue that the addition of AI into the workforce will allow us to spend more time being “human”.
If we combine these findings with an expected net job growth of 78 million jobs (7%), we get an even more optimistic picture - a future of opportunity where the importance of human-centric skills is not just acknowledged, but amplified through technological advancement.
So, maybe this is the real question: In a world where change is the only constant, and demand for human skills is on the rise, how are YOU preparing to become more HUMAN?
We don’t always need to chase every shiny new tech trend to stay relevant. Sometimes we need to focus on the core skills that make us resilient, adaptable, and valuable in our own right.
Beyond AI, what skills are you focusing on developing?
- How are you building resilience and adaptability in your career?
- What does "lifelong learning" look like in practice for you?
- How do we stay human in an increasingly automated world?