New Economy Skills 2025

Industry and regional transformation trends Figure 15 presents the share of employers surveyed who consider skills to be core for their workers across different industries. Understandably, tech- heavy sectors such as information and technology services, and telecommunications tend to see digital skills as core to the greatest extent, particularly in AI and programming. These industries rely heavily on digital technologies to deliver their core products and services, drive innovation and maintain competitive advantage. Rapid development and deployment of new technologies in these sectors require employees with high levels of digital literacy to develop, implement and manage complex systems. As these sectors are often at the forefront of digital transformation, the ability to adapt to and leverage emerging technologies is crucial for operational success and continued growth. Insurance, financial services, and energy and utilities place a similarly high value on digital skills, particularly foundational technological literacy, because their operations increasingly depend on digital technologies for efficiency, innovation and security. In financial services and capital markets, for instance, digital skills are essential for automating processes, developing secure transaction systems and managing extensive data sets. Insurance firms rely on digital tools to analyse risk, streamline claims processing and personalize customer offerings. Energy, technology and utilities companies use technological literacy to manage smart grids, implement predictive maintenance and integrate renewable energy solutions. In all these sectors, the need to handle large volumes of data, comply with regulatory requirements and respond swiftly to market changes, means that digital skills are critical for maintaining competitiveness and driving ongoing transformation. While foundational technological literacy is vital, these i ndustries also see specialist skills such as programming and data analytics as core. Compared to other sectors, industries such as mining and metals; agriculture, forestry, and fishing; and accommodation, food, and leisure are the least likely to view digital skills as essential. Currently, about one- quarter of Mining and Metals companies see AI and big data expertise as central to their operations, while only 5% regard programming as fundamental. Daily activities in these sectors generally depend more on physical processes, heavy machinery and manual labour, rather than on advanced digital technologies. As a result, digital tools often play a supporting role instead of being core to their work, which accounts for the relatively low emphasis on digital competencies like AI and programming. Digital skill importance, 2025 FIGURE 15 Source: World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Survey 2024.Share %Share (%) of employers who consider skills to be core for their workers, by industry. Chart shows the top three and bottom three industries by average share. 0 50 100 50 1000 50 100 0 50 100 0 50 100 0Programming Technological literacy Telecommunications Information and technology services Financial services and capital markets Agriculture, forestry and fishing Professional services Mining and metalsInsurance and pensions management Energy technology and utilitiesFinancial services and capital markets Professional services Medical and healthcare services Real estateAI and big data Networks and cybersecurity Design and user experience Telecommunications Financial services and capital marketsGovernment and public sector Medical and healthcare services Real estate Advanced manufacturingTelecommunications Information and technology services Education and training Agriculture, forestry and fishing Accommodation, food and leisure Mining and metalsInformation and technology services Telecommunications Financial services and capital markets Energy technology and utilities Accommodation, food, and leisure Mining and metals New Economy Skills: Building AI, Data and Digital Capabilities for Growth 24