According to the latest research, with the continuous development of artificial intelligence (AI), at least 4 out of every 10 companies globally may conduct layoffs as a result of this advancement.
A survey in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) latest “Future of Jobs Report” indicates that 41% of employers surveyed expressed plans to reduce their workforce within the next five years due to the increasing capabilities and prevalence of AI, if this technology can imitate human work.
Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director of the WEF, stated in the report that as we enter 2025, the work environment is rapidly evolving, particularly with the breakthrough development of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), reshaping the operational models and task assignments across various industries.
She added that these technological advancements are intertwined with other broader challenges, forming a complex landscape, including economic upheaval, geopolitical realignment, environmental challenges, and evolving societal expectations.
The survey also found that 77% of employers surveyed have plans to adopt strategies in “retraining and upskilling” to help existing employees adapt to working alongside AI.
The report suggests that by 2030, over 170 million new job positions will be created, while 92 million positions will be replaced, resulting in a net gain of 78 million positions. However, behind these optimistic numbers lies a key challenge: the ever-widening skill gap.
The report predicts that by 2030, over 39% of core employee skills will undergo significant changes.
It is believed that urgent actions to enhance reskilling and upskilling are necessary to bridge the gap between current capabilities and future demands.
The 2025 “Future of Jobs Report” survey covered research data from 1,043 companies globally, representing over 14 million employees across 22 industry clusters and 55 economies, conducted between May and September of last year.