I wanted to drop these two reports in one place. Neither of course are concerned with wider ethical issues of AI and I do not want to come over as tech bro evangelist but I do think my pragmatism and the necessary ‘responsible engagement’ approach many institutions are now taking is buttressed by the (like or no) trends we are seeing which are profound. Barriers (as seen through eyes of employers) to change struck me too as we can see the similar manifestations in educational spaces: skills gaps, cultural resistance and outdated regulation.

The Future of Jobs Report 2025 explores how global labour markets will evolve by 2030 in response to intersecting drivers of change: technological advances (especially AI), economic volatility, demographic shifts, climate imperatives and geopolitical tensions. Based on responses from over 1,000 global employers covering more than 14 million workers, the report predicts large-scale job transformation. While 14% of current jobs (170 million) are expected to be created, 8% (92 million) will be displaced, resulting in a net 6% growth. The transition will be skills-intensive, with 59% of workers needing retraining. Those numbers are enogh to make you gasp and drop your coffee.

PwC’s 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer presents an incredibly optimistic analysis of how AI is reshaping the global workforce. From a billion job ads and thousands of company reports across the globe, the report suggests that AI is enhancing productivity, shifting skill demands and increasing the value of workers. Rather than displacing workers it argues that AI is acting as a multiplier, especially when deployed agentically. The findings provide a counter perspective to common (and I’d argue, perfectly reasonable and rational!) fears about AI-induced job losses.

Whilst I am still wearing the biggest of my cynical hats, I concur that the need for urgent investment in skills (and critical engagement) is imperative and, lest we lose any residual handle on shaping the narratives in this space, we need to invest much more of our efforts into considering where we need to adapt what we research, the design and content of our currcula and the critical and practical skills we need to develop. Given the timeframes suggested in these reports, we’d better get on with it.