The recent "Future of Jobs Report 2025" released by the World Economic Forum reveals an interesting contradiction: while artificial intelligence (AI) is seen as a technology that will replace certain jobs, global companies are more inclined to retrain existing employees rather than lay them off.
The report surveyed 1,000 companies worldwide, showing that about 41% of companies plan to reduce positions that AI can handle, while 77% of companies are focusing more on training existing employees in AI skills. This trend highlights that many companies prefer to adapt to the application of AI through retraining rather than directly resorting to layoffs. However, it is worth noting that these figures may change rapidly with the advancement of AI technology.
77% of companies plan to retrain existing employees to adapt to the adoption of artificial intelligence, while only 41% plan to reduce their workforce due to AI automation. | Image: WEF
From a regional perspective, the emphasis on skill enhancement spans countries of varying income levels. In high-income countries, 87% of companies prioritize training, while the figures for upper-middle-income and lower-middle-income countries are 84% and 82%, respectively. Additionally, process automation remains a crucial strategy for business transformation, although its popularity has declined—73% of companies plan to implement automation, down from 80% in 2023. High-income countries are particularly proactive in this area, with 77% of companies planning to automate, compared to only 57% in lower-middle-income countries.
Skill enhancement and process automation dominate employers' transformation strategies. | Image: WEF
Although the proliferation of AI will impact existing jobs, the World Economic Forum predicts that technological advancements and market changes will create approximately 170 million new jobs by 2030, accounting for 14% of current global employment. It is expected that 8% of existing jobs will disappear by 2030, but overall, 78 million new jobs will be created.
This transformation requires large-scale retraining. The report indicates that 70% of companies wish to hire employees with future skills, and 51% plan to transfer employees from downsizing departments to growth areas. The World Economic Forum also anticipates that by 2030, 59% of the global workforce will require additional training to meet the evolving job demands.
Starting from 2023, the demand for AI skills will grow exponentially. Particularly among businesses, their investment in training will increase, as evidenced by the sharp rise in corporate registrations starting in mid-2024. | Image: WEF
However, researchers warn that AI automation still has limitations, especially in jobs requiring human emotions, judgment, or physical skills, where AI finds it challenging to replace humans. Therefore, the report suggests that companies should not overly rely on automation but adopt a balanced strategy that enhances human capabilities while promoting AI development, ensuring that the importance of human workers in economic value creation is not diminished.
Overall, AI technology is redefining the landscape of jobs, and businesses face not only the challenges brought by technological innovation but also the need for continuous training and transformation to meet future labor demands.
