What does the future of work look like?

Iréne-Mari van der Walt
  • 1 Month Ago
The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Future of Jobs report for 2025 projects that AI and information-processing technologies will create 11 million jobs by 2030, while displacing 9 million within the same period. Meanwhile, Coursera’s Global Skills report shows the global workforce is embracing the AI shift, with 8 million users signing up for one of the platform’s 700 courses in generative AI - averaging 12 new enrolments every minute, or one every five seconds.

By 2030, tasks are predicted to be divided almost evenly between humans (34%), machines (32%) and hybrid systems (34%). While automation is expected to dominate in the telecommunications sector, industries such as healthcare and government are anticipated to rely heavily on human–machine collaboration.

The WEF report also forecasts that nearly eight in ten employers will reskill their staff to use AI, and almost two-thirds will actively hire employees able to collaborate with AI systems by 2030. In addition, 70% of employers are expected to recruit for AI design skills.

Demand for cybersecurity skills is rising rapidly. Coursera data shows a 106% increase in course enrolments in Latin America, a 20% rise in Europe, and 14% growth in the Asia-Pacific region. Yet despite this boom, fewer than half of organisations believe they are highly prepared to deal with AI-driven cyber threats. Security management, however, is now among Coursera’s five fastest-growing career fields.



Reshaping companies

According to WEF, technologies linked to AI and information processing - including big data, virtual reality and augmented reality - will reshape 86% to 92% of companies. The logistics and manufacturing sectors are expected to see significant disruption, with robots and autonomous systems potentially leading to 5 million job losses.

Quantum and encryption technologies remain relatively niche, with just 12% to 19% of firms planning adoption. The telecommunications sector, however, is emerging as a leader in automation, with a projected 95% reduction in human task share through technology. By 2030, telecom employers plan to prioritise reskilling, positioning the sector as one of the global leaders in upskilling commitments.

Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s highest rate of mobile learning, with 65% of education taking place through mobile platforms, Coursera reports. In Nigeria, the “3 Million Technical Talent” programme leverages telecom-enabled platforms to scale digital and network skills, while in South Africa, network infrastructure is seen as a critical enabler of AI rollout.

AI and big data remain the frontrunners in future hiring, with 90% of employers expecting these skills to be critical to their organisations. Globally, demand for network development and cybersecurity skills is forecast to grow by 70% to 79%.

The vast majority of employers (97%) are also shifting towards skills-based hiring, valuing digital credentials over traditional qualifications, according to the Global Skills Report. – irene-mari@nmh-hub.com.na