The fastest-growing jobs worldwide are in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, networks, cybersecurity, and technological literacy, according to the World Economic Forum.
The Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlights that roles such as Big Data specialists, fintech engineers, AI and Machine Learning specialists, and software and application developers will be in high demand over the next five years.
The report compiles insights from over 1,000 leading global employers, representing more than 14 million workers across 22 industry clusters and 55 economies.
As technology reshapes the job market, AI, information processing, robotics, and automation are expected to be key drivers of employment growth. However, human-centered skills—such as creative thinking, resilience, leadership, flexibility, agility, curiosity, and lifelong learning—will also grow in importance between 2025 and 2030.
Conversely, manual skills like dexterity, endurance, and precision will decline in demand as automation reduces human error. Still, jobs in agriculture, delivery services, construction, sales, and food processing are expected to experience significant growth.
The care economy—including roles such as nurses, social workers, counselors, personal care providers, and teachers—will also expand.
One of the most transformative trends over the next five years will be digital access, with 60% of employers expecting it to reshape their businesses. Other major trends include advances in AI, robotics, automation, and energy generation, storage, and distribution.
“These trends will have a dual impact, driving both the fastest-growing and fastest-declining job roles while fueling demand for technology-related skills,” the report states.
The report emphasizes that upskilling and reskilling will remain crucial.
“If the global workforce consisted of 100 people, 59 would require training by 2030,” the authors note.
Of these 59 workers:
- 29 could be trained while remaining in their current roles,
- 19 could be retrained and redeployed within their organizations,
- 11 might not receive the necessary training and could lose their jobs.
Workers should also anticipate that 39% of their skill set will either be transformed or become obsolete between 2025 and 2030. By 2030, 170 million new jobs are expected to be created, driven by technological advancements, geoeconomic fragmentation, economic uncertainty, demographic shifts, and the green transition.
In Kenya, the demand for tech professionals is rising, sparking competition for talent among technology and telecommunication companies.
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At Safaricom, AI and Machine Learning have been in use for over five years, helping develop products, analyze data, and enhance customer experience. The company also leverages Big Data AI tools to automate processes, improve efficiency, and enable data-driven decision-making.
Recognizing the need to embrace AI, Safaricom launched the One More Skill initiative in 2021, later expanding it to 2 + 1 More Skill in March 2024. This program aligns with the company’s transformation from a traditional telecom operator to a purpose-driven technology company.
Through this initiative, Safaricom has reskilled, upskilled, and multiskilled its workforce. After benchmarking with global tech leaders, the company identified 13 essential digital skills that would accelerate its mission of becoming a full-fledged technology enterprise by 2030. The 2 + 1 More Skill program allows employees to select two digital skills and one functional skill (which can also be digital) from this set, applying them in their daily tasks and participating in AI hackathons.
“The Fourth Industrial Revolution demands a workforce skilled in both technical and human-centered competencies. At Safaricom, we have implemented transformative learning programs that emphasize acquiring and applying future tech skills. Through such initiatives, 100% of our employees have become certified in AI and other emerging technologies, positioning Safaricom as a leader in cultivating tech-savvy talent in Africa,” said Florence Nyokabi, Safaricom’s Chief Human Resources Officer.
While the Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlights exciting opportunities, it also raises concerns about AI displacing jobs.
“Half of employers plan to reorient their business in response to AI, two-thirds aim to hire talent with specific AI skills, and 40% anticipate reducing their workforce as AI automates tasks,” the report concludes.