Drivers of 
labour-market 
transformation
Technological developments, the green transition, 
macroeconomic and geoeconomic shifts, and 
demographic changes are driving transformation in 
the global labour market, reshaping both jobs and 
required skills. This chapter provides a picture of 
how companies expect these macrotrends to drive 
industry transformation by 2030.
Expected impact of macrotrends on business 
transformation
Future of Jobs Report 2025
January 2025
1
1.1
Share of employers surveyed (%)
0
40
60
80
100
20
Macrotrends driving business transformation
F I G U R E  1 . 1
Source
World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Survey 2024.
Broadening digital access
Rising cost of living, higher prices or inﬂation
Increased efforts and investments to reduce carbon emissions
Increased focus on labour and social issues
Slower economic growth
Increased efforts and investments to adapt to climate change
Ageing and declining working-age populations
Increased geopolitical division and conﬂicts
Growing working-age populations
Increased restrictions to global trade and investment
Increased government subsidies and industrial policy 
Stricter anti-trust and competition regulations
Geoeconomic fragmentation
Demographic shifts
Economic uncertainty
Societal issues
Technology change
Green transition
60%
50%
47%
46%
42%
41%
40%
34%
24%
23%
21%
17%
Share of employers surveyed that identify the stated trend as likely to drive business transformation.
Technological change
More employers – 60% – expect broadening digital 
access to transform their business than any other 
trend, with similar proportions of employers across 
all regions selecting this trend. This growing digital 
access is a critical enabler for new technologies to 
transform labour markets (Figure 1.1).
The Future of Jobs Survey asked employers how 
advances in nine key technologies are transforming 
Future of Jobs Report 2025
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