The Future of Jobs Report 2025 has been released! Created by the World Economic Forum, the report released every two years explores the trends and macrotrends that will impact the global labour market from now through to the year 2030.
Created in collaboration with 1,000 leading employers across 22 different industries and 55 economies around the world, this huge 290-page document gives us a glimpse into what the skills, roles and industries will be most sought-after in the next five years, as well as those that are in decline.
Don’t have time to read the full report? Here’s everything you need to know about the jobs of the future, the most essential skills workers will need, and what this all means for you as an international student.
Frontline roles are predicted to see the largest growth
According to the report, it is estimated that frontline jobs will see massive growth over the next five years. Some of these roles include farmworkers, salespeople, delivery drivers, food processing workers and construction workers. This is great news for students as many of these positions are often employed on a casual basis giving you the flexibility to work while you’re still studying. Education positions such as teachers are also set to rise. This is great news for students studying in this field as more roles mean a higher chance of employment.
The same report revealed roles such as postal service clerks, bank tellers, data entry employees and cashiers are in decline. Students seeking part-time employment should keep this in mind as a decrease in these particular jobs may reduce some entry-level job opportunities. Instead, you should look for employment in any of the top-growing positions.
Technology-related roles are the fastest-growing jobs
The report revealed the top fastest-growing jobs between 2025-2030 all leaned heavily on technology. When looking at the percentage figures, big data specialists topped the list at over 100% in growth, followed by fintech engineers, AI and machine learning specialists, software and application developers, and security management specialists rounding out the top five roles.
Students studying within this field will have a greater advantage as they enter the workforce as more jobs will mean more chances of securing employment. The skills and any hands-on work experience gained throughout your degree within the technology sector will make you a desirable employee.
AI and big data top the list of fastest-growing skills
Unsurprisingly, the growth of technology-related roles has also seen an increase in skills associated with this industry. AI, big data and technological literacy topped the list of fastest-growing skills, with a net increase of 87, 70 and 68 respectively. However, students not directly studying a technology-first degree don’t need to worry. Skills such as creative thinking, resilience, flexibility and agility, and leadership remain desirable. What’s also great to know is lifelong learning and curiosity were in the top six skills on the rise, meaning mature-age students and those who return to study after working will be greatly valued by employers of the future.
Upskilling is crucial for workers
An interesting result from The Future of Jobs Report 2025 found that on average, two-fifths of worker’s existing skill sets will be outdated or transformed between the years 2025 to 2030. However, don’t let this figure scare you. Current and future students actually have the upper hand here as it means you will have the chance to develop skills that are highly relevant to the evolving job market. The results just go to show how important it is for employees to continually upskill not only in their chosen industry but to expand their learnings through further studies and work experiences.
Diversity and equity are more important than ever
A survey conducted by the 1,000 global employers as part of The Future of Jobs Report concluded offering diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives is considered a top business practice to increase talent availability within the next five years. Seeking employees from diverse talent pools was favoured by 47% of survey participants, up from 10% from the 2023 report.
This goes to show employers of the future are recognising how important it is to hire staff from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds, genders, experiences and beliefs as a way to bring in new perspectives and change businesses for the better.
