New Economy Skills 2025

Business leaders ramp up demand for digital skills in the wake of sweeping transformation efforts Figure 1.3 shows a significant increase in employer- perceived demand for digital skills. Competencies such as technology literacy, AI and big data, networks and cybersecurity, design and user experience, and programming are currently viewed as essential now and even more so over the next five years. For example, technology literacy is considered a core skill by 51% of organizations surveyed in 2025, with 68% anticipating heightened relevance by 2030. AI and big data skills are considered particularly important, driven by substantial enterprise investment in the field. Nearly 90% of business leaders expect these skills to become more important, with 45% regarding them as core today, underscoring the pivotal role of AI and data- driven approaches in shaping business strategies, operations and innovation. Overall, the analysis demonstrates that a large proportion of business leaders foresee an increase in value for all digital skills, reaffirming the escalating demand across the field. Yet, business sentiment raises flags that the workforce may not possess adequate skills for current and future needs. According to the World Economic Forum’s Executive Opinion Survey 2025, slightly over 20% of leaders believe their employees are proficient in AI and big data skills – despite the anticipated growth in demand through 2030. Workforce proficiency in technology literacy is comparatively higher; however, only half of leaders express confidence in this skill. Analysis of the data does indicate that trends in skill development proficiency are consistently reflected in labour-market outcomes. Generally, regions with robust education systems for skills such as technology literacy demonstrate higher levels of worker proficiency in that area. For instance, Northern America exhibits the highest perceived AI skill development and worker proficiency, whereas Latin America and the Caribbean reports some of the highest for resilience and collaboration (Figure 4). It is significant to note that, in most cases, perceptions of workforce proficiency surpass those of skill development capabilities, suggesting Skill evolution, 2025–2030 FIGURE 3 Skill evolution, 2025-2030 FIGURE 3 Note: Share of surveyed organizations that consider skills to be core skills for their workforce and their estimated increase in use in the next five years. Source: World Economic Forum Executive Opinion Survey 2025.Technology skills Shar e of employers considering a skill as cor e in 2025 (%)Emerging skills Less essential now , but expected to incr ease in useCore skills in 2030 Core now and expected to incr ease in importance Steady skills Core now , but not expected to incr ease in useOut of focus skills Less essential now , and not expected to incr ease in useShar e of employers expecting incr eased use of skills by 2030 (%)100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80Resilience, flexibility and agility Analytical thinking Leadership and social influenceCreative thinkingTechnological literacyNetworks and security Environmental stewardship Programming Marketing and media Global citizenship Sensory-processing abilities Manual dexterity, endurance and precisionReading, writing and mathematics Multi-lingualismTeaching and mentoring Resource management and operationsServices orientation and customer serviceEmpathy and active listeningDesign and user experience Motivation and self-awareness Dependability and attention to detailQuality controlTalent management Systems thinkingAI and big data Curiosity and lifelong learning New Economy Skills: Building AI, Data and Digital Capabilities for Growth 10