The professions with more career opportunities
The labour market of 2030 will not look like the one in 2020. The arrival of generative artificial intelligence from late 2022 onwards has accelerated trends that were already underway: automation, the green transition, population ageing and geoeconomic shifts. In its Future of Jobs Report 2025, the World Economic Forum estimates that 170 million new jobs will be created worldwide and 92 million will disappear over that period. The net balance is positive, but the professional map is changing profoundly.
How the professional map is changing
Five forces are reshaping the labour market up to 2030, according to the World Economic Forum’s analysis. The first and most visible is technological progress, with artificial intelligence and automation redistributing tasks across virtually every sector. The second is the green transition, which is opening up new roles linked to renewable energy, sustainability and the circular economy. The third is population ageing in high-income countries, which is driving demand for healthcare and care workers. The fourth is geoeconomic fragmentation, with the relocation of supply chains and a new industrial geography. And the fifth is economic uncertainty: half of employers expect the rising cost of living to transform their business models in the coming years.
The aggregate result is 78 million net new jobs worldwide, with an additional loss of 6 million attributed solely to the effect of the economic slowdown. At the same time, 39% of today’s skills will become obsolete before 2030, putting continuous learning at the centre of professional strategy.
The fastest-growing profiles up to 2030
According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, roles linked to technology lead the growth ranking. Artificial intelligence and machine learning specialists, fintech engineers, big data analysts, data scientists and software developers are expected to record some of the highest expansion rates.
In second place are profiles linked to the green transition: renewable energy engineers, sustainability specialists, electric vehicle technicians and environmental auditors. The ecological transition is expected to generate 34 million additional jobs by 2030 in activities linked to agriculture and emissions reduction alone.
In third place are healthcare and care services. Ageing populations in Europe, Japan and North America are increasing demand for nursing staff, therapists, geriatric assistants and care-related profiles. In Spain, the report highlights business development professionals as the occupation with the highest projected net growth up to 2030, at +18%.
Jobs in decline
The other side of the shift is also clearly identified. The jobs expected to see the sharpest decline by 2030 are those that can be fully automated. Bank tellers, traditional postal workers, data entry clerks, supermarket cashiers and routine administrative roles top the decline lists.
In Spain, the report highlights three profiles with the highest projected net decline: general and operations managers (affected by the consolidation of structures and the automation of management), basic administrative staff and traditional sales roles in retail.
The common logic is the same. Repetitive, mechanical tasks with clear rules are being automated through software or robotics; tasks that require complex judgement, human contact, creativity or adaptation to changing contexts are being maintained and strengthened.
The skills that make the difference
The World Economic Forum report identifies a set of skills that will concentrate much of the demand up to 2030, combining technical skills and human skills.
On the technical side, artificial intelligence and big data skills are clearly in the lead. They are followed by general technological literacy, cybersecurity and applied programming capabilities. Some 77% of the companies surveyed expect to reskill their workforce to work alongside AI, and 69% plan to hire new profiles specialised in AI tools.
On the human side, the skills gaining the most importance are analytical and creative thinking, resilience, flexibility, leadership and social influence, and curiosity for continuous learning. According to the employer data collected, combining technical skills with human skills is what makes the difference in recruitment processes.
How to prepare for professional change
Adapting to the new professional map is not only about choosing the right career or reskilling in a new area. It also means organising your finances in a way that fits less linear careers, variable income and more frequent transitions between jobs, training periods and contract models.
For those just starting out, whether finishing secondary education or preparing for an international exchange, budget management is part of the learning process. It is worth reviewing how to manage your money during Erasmus, which can apply to any period of training or work in another country.
For those considering self-employment or launching a small business, there are many documented options for profitable businesses with low investment, compatible with the professional transition that many people will face in the coming years.
And for those moving towards remote work or international freelancing, one of the most consolidated patterns since the pandemic, separating work income and expenses from the rest is more important than ever. A prepaid crypto card for digital nomads makes it possible to manage income in different currencies, including crypto payments, without depending on a bank account in every country.
The future of work that seemed like science fiction in 2020 is already here. Artificial intelligence has not replaced workers en masse, but it has changed the way most jobs are done and pushed millions of people to add new skills. The World Economic Forum data confirms that the net balance of jobs will remain positive up to 2030, but also that almost 40% of today’s skills have an expiry date. Choosing well, learning continuously and organising your finances to adapt to that pace is the new foundation of professional development.
Frequently asked questions
How many jobs will be created by 2030 according to the World Economic Forum?
The Future of Jobs Report 2025 estimates that 170 million new jobs will be created worldwide between 2025 and 2030, while 92 million will disappear. The net balance is 78 million additional jobs, equivalent to 7% growth in the global labour market.
Which sectors will grow the most?
The three areas with the strongest expected growth are technology (AI and machine learning specialists, fintech engineers, big data analysts, data scientists), the green transition (renewable energy, sustainability, electric mobility) and healthcare and care services (nursing staff, therapists, geriatric assistants).
Which jobs are in decline?
The jobs expected to decline the most are the most automatable: bank tellers, postal workers, data entry clerks, supermarket cashiers and routine administrative roles. In Spain, declines are also expected among general and operations managers and traditional retail sales roles.
Which skills will be most in demand up to 2030?
The report highlights AI and big data skills, technological literacy, cybersecurity, analytical and creative thinking, resilience, flexibility, leadership and curiosity for continuous learning. Combining technical skills with human skills is what makes the difference in current hiring processes.
What percentage of skills will become obsolete?
According to the same report, 39% of today’s skills will become obsolete before 2030. This places continuous learning and professional reskilling at the centre of any strategy to remain competitive in the labour market.
Will artificial intelligence destroy more jobs than it creates?
No, according to current data. The projected net balance up to 2030 is positive: more jobs will be created than destroyed. What does change is the composition of the labour market: roles that AI can replicate decline, while profiles that work with AI grow and complementary human skills become more important.