41% of companies to cut jobs by 2030 as AI takes over

At least 41% of employers expect to downsize their workforce as Artificial Intelligence increasingly replicates roles, according to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) 2025 Future of Jobs Report.

In contrast, 77% of surveyed employers plan to adopt reskilling and upskilling initiatives by 2030, positioning it as the top workforce strategy in 45 of the 55 economies analyzed in the report.

"Advances in AI and renewable energy are reshaping the market – driving an increase in demand for many technology or specialist roles while driving a decline for others, such as graphic designers," a press release by the WEF stated, following the release of their report.

The report noted that 39% of workers' skills are expected to become outdated or transformed between 2025 and 2030. According to WEF's managing director, Saadia Zaahid, transformational breakthroughs in generative AI are reshaping industries, but they coincide with challenges like economic volatility and changing societal expectations, among other factors.

Jobs impacted by AI, particularly clerical and secretarial roles—such as cashiers, ticket clerks, administrative assistants, and executive secretaries—are expected to face the largest decline in absolute numbers in the coming years.

"The presence of both Graphic Designers and Legal Secretaries just outside the top 10 fastest-declining job roles, a first-time prediction not seen in previous editions of the Future of Jobs Report, may illustrate GenAI’s increasing capacity to perform knowledge work," the report highlighted.

Meanwhile, investment and adoption of generative AI (GenAI) have surged across sectors, with demand for GenAI skills rising significantly among businesses and individuals. According to the 2024 Annual Work Trend Index, 71% of executives expressed a preference for hiring candidates with AI expertise.

Despite the trend in downsizing due to GenAI, the report noted the continued importance of "human-centred skills". Of the 2,800+ skills assessed for their potential to be replaced by GenAI, none were found to have a “very high capacity” for substitution, while 69% were rated as having “very low” or “low” substitution potential.

However, companies like Duolingo have already reduced their workforce, citing AI adoption as the reason, while others, such as IBM and BT Group, have announced plans to gradually replace job roles with AI in the years ahead.