How is the WEF Helping Businesses Develop Future Skills?

According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) 22% of jobs will be disrupted by 2030 due to new technology, the green transition, demographic change and geoeconomic fragmentation. 

To combat this, the WEF is evolving its Reskilling Revolution – an initiative designed to improve access to education, skills and economic opportunity in the workforce. 

Initially launched in 2020, the initiative is now striving to better embed skills into workforce transformation, economic policy and talent systems through reskilling, upskilling and workforce inclusion. 

Building technological literacy in the workforce

AI has played a significant role in workforce transformation in recent years, and business leaders are working to ensure employees are suitably upskilled. 

As the longevity of technological skills shortens, however, workers, employers and training systems are having to adapt continuously – meaning that businesses must be agile to remain competitive. 

In January 2026, Deloitte and Pearson announced a partnership to support organisations in building up AI skills, with Omar Abbosh, CEO of Pearson, saying “Technology is reshaping the workplace faster than ever, and the most critical skill today is the ability to learn. 

“As the half-life of skills shortens, organisations need learning that's continuous, adaptive and embedded in the flow of work.”

Ryan Roslansky, CEO of LinkedIn, agrees. In October 2025, he told Business Insider that candidates most likely to be hired will be those who are “adaptable, forward-thinking, ready to learn and ready to embrace these [AI] tools”. 

This matches expectations of the evolving workforce, with the WEF reporting that 39% of workers’ core skills are expected to change by 2030, as AI moves from experimentation and becomes further embedded into workflows. 

This includes agentic AI, with WEF research suggesting that business leaders will be looking for candidates who are able to work with the technology – as seen by McKinsey, which is now assessing candidates on their ability to collaborate with an AI tool in the hiring process. 

In some final stage interviews, the consultancy firm has now introduced an AI test, where candidates have to use Lilli, McKinsey’s internal AI tool, in their workflow, using critical thinking to create a final product they can take ownership of. 

Developing human-centric skills

While the WEF’s initiative is addressing the AI skills gap and wider technological literacy, it is also emphasising the importance of developing attitudes and human-centric skills – including leadership, curiosity and resilience. 

Prioritising these skills can play a significant role in overall business success, with Deloitte finding that high performing organisations tend to prioritise skills such as emotional intelligence, divergent thinking and effective collaboration. 

The top 10 skills organisations expect to increase in importance by 2030, according to the WEF, include analytical thinking, agility and environmental stewardship – with over half of business leaders dedicated to preparing a green workforce. 

A 2025 report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) found that the rate of job creation in the energy sector is almost double the growth compared to the global jobs economy as a whole – but 60% of companies are currently grappling with labour shortages due to a lack of skilled workers. 

To help develop skills such as these, the WEF has three key priorities – strengthening education and talent system readiness, developing shared frameworks to scale future-critical skills and improving employer-education collaboration to facilitate lifelong learning. 

Cláudia Azevedo, CEO of Sonae, says of the initiative: “Reskilling is not just about adapting to change; it is about empowering people and communities to thrive in an intelligent age. 

“At Sonae, we believe we bear this responsibility and are committed to this transformative journey, ensuring that innovation and opportunity go hand in hand to build a more inclusive and resilient future for all.”