Workforce strategies This chapter discusses workforce strategies that employers anticipate adopting in response to the macrotrends shaping the future of work and key barriers to organizational transformation. It also analyses employers’ outlook on talent availability from now to 2030, and explores planned workplace practices and policies to achieve their organization’s business goals, with a particular focus on the shifting relationship between humans and technologies. Barriers to transformation Skill gaps in the labour market are the primary barrier to business transformation perceived by Future of Jobs Survey respondents for the 2025- 2030 period, cited by 63% of surveyed employers (Figure 4.1). This is even more pronounced than the results described in the 2023 edition of the report, where skills gaps in the local labour market also topped the transformation barriers, backed by 60% of executives. This skill challenge persists across almost all industries and geographies, ranking first in 52 out of 55 economies and 19 out of 22 sectors. Future of Jobs Report 2025 January 20254 4.1 63% 46% 39% 37% 32% 27% 26% 25% Barriers to organizational transformation, 2025-2030 FIGURE 4.1 Source World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Survey 2024.Share of employers surveyed expecting the stated barrier will hinder their organisational transformation. 1.Skills gaps in the labour market 2.Organizational culture and resistance to change 3.Outdated or inﬂexible regulatory framework 4.Inability to attract talent to the industry 5.Lack of adequate data and technical infrastructure 6.Inability to attract talent to my ﬁrm 7.Shortage of investment capital 8.Insufﬁcient understanding of opportunities The second most significant perceived barrier is organizational culture and resistance to change, identified by 46% of respondents as a key obstacle, which highlights the anticipated challenge of aligning internal processes, organizational structures, hierarchies and mindsets in responding to the trends and disruptions companies expect to face. Regulatory concerns are considered the third most relevant barrier, identified by 39% of employers. Moreover, 32% of respondents highlight a lack of adequate data and technical infrastructure as an additional obstacle. Other barriers, such as shortage of investment capital (26%) and insufficient understanding of opportunities (25%), are cited less frequently. Future of Jobs Report 2025 49