The world of work is changing fast. To succeed, leading organizations and future-ready professionals are making a commitment to upskilling and lifelong learning to prepare for new jobs and skills requirements of the future.
In this article we discuss:
The job market is currently being redefined by business priorities and skill sets that didn’t exist just a few years ago. From AI breakthroughs to the continued rise of remote and hybrid workplaces to a growing focus on sustainability, forces of change are reshaping entire industries.
To keep pace, forward-looking organizations are treating skills as their most strategic asset. Workday research found more than half (55%) of organizations have already shifted to skills-based approaches to become more adaptable and resilient, and another 23% plan to do so within the next year. Organizations need employees who are adaptable, willing to learn, open to new roles, and resilient in times of change.
At the same time, job titles and roles themselves will evolve with new technologies, particularly as automation and AI change the dynamic between humans and technology tools in the workplace. For professionals, the path to advancement lies in a commitment to continuous learning and staying ahead of new skill demands as the world of work and the technologies powering it continue to evolve.
Work today is being reshaped by the convergence of a few major shifts. Advances in AI and automation are accelerating alongside demographic change, the green transition, and persistent global economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Together, these trends are disrupting industries and redefining the skills employers value most to stay successful.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, more than 60% of employers expect AI and digital access to transform their businesses by 2030, while nearly half anticipate climate adaptation and mitigation will be equally disruptive.
Among these forces, AI and related technologies such as information processing, robotics, and automation are the top reported accelerants of change, with renewable energy innovations following close behind.
Meanwhile, aging populations in advanced economies, growing youth populations in emerging markets, and increasingly multigenerational workforces are reshaping demand for healthcare, education, and workforce development.
In parallel, rising living costs and slower growth compound the complexity, shaping both job creation and displacement. By 2030, these forces are expected to create 170 million new jobs and displace 92 million, resulting in a net gain of 78 million roles worldwide.
For organizations and professionals alike, the challenge is to translate these forces into clear skills priorities that keep them competitive as work evolves.
By 2030, disruptive trends are expected to create 170 million new jobs and displace 92 million, resulting in a net gain of 78 million roles worldwide.
The future of work is already taking shape in today’s labor market, and continuing to evolve. LinkedIn’s Work Change Report predicts that adults entering the workforce today will hold 2x as many jobs over their careers compared to 15 years ago. On top of that, more than 10% of workers today hold jobs that didn’t even exist 25 years ago. In the U.S., it’s closer to 20%.
These emerging professions highlight where opportunities are growing and where professionals should focus their own skills development for the future. Here are 11 professions that will be in high-demand.
AI specialists and machine learning engineers design and refine systems that increasingly shape our everyday experiences—think recommendation engines, fraud detection, personalized medicine, and intelligent automation. Their work is at the core of business transformation, enabling organizations to scale insights and automate complex processes once thought impossible.
As AI adoption accelerates, these roles will expand beyond tech companies into every sector, from retail and finance to manufacturing and agriculture. The future of competitive advantage rests heavily on how well businesses integrate AI into products, services, and operations—and data and AI specialists make that happen.
Skills You’ll Need
Machine learning frameworks
Deep learning
Python or R
Natural language processing
Cloud platforms
Model ethics and governance
Bias mitigation testing
Handling large data is a challenge for every business today. Data scientists specialize in transforming raw data into actionable insights. They create predictive models, run simulations, and reveal patterns that inform strategy and innovation. In an era of data abundance, their ability to distill clarity from complexity is invaluable.
As organizations push for measurable business outcomes to prove ROI from AI, the role is shifting. Tomorrow’s data scientists will need to combine technical mastery with sharp communication skills to influence leaders and help to shape more intelligent, data-driven decisions.
Skills You’ll Need
Statistical modeling
Python or R
SQL
Data visualization
Applied machine learning
Business acumen
As digital systems become more interconnected, the risk of cyberattacks grows exponentially. Cybersecurity analysts protect networks, infrastructure, and intellectual property, while digital trust officers take a broader view, safeguarding brand reputation, data, and compliance in a world where security equals trust.
With cyberthreats increasingly becoming complex, these professionals will be on the front lines of defending organizations. Their expertise ensures continuity, protects sensitive information, and maintains the confidence of customers and partners.
Skills You’ll Need
Threat detection
Risk assessment
Cloud and network security
Ethical hacking
Incident response
Knowledge of AI-enabled defense tools
An aging population and broader access to healthcare are driving rapid growth in advanced practice providers. Nurse practitioners and physicians’ assistants deliver frontline care, often serving as primary providers in communities where physicians are limited.
As rates of chronic illness climb and health systems face mounting pressure, their role has become central to ensuring patients receive high-quality and accessible care.
Skills You’ll Need
Clinical expertise
Diagnostic proficiency
Patient communication
Emotional intelligenceAdaptability to evolving healthcare technologies
Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams
Behind every efficient healthcare system are medical and health services managers. They oversee operations in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities and ensure clinical staff and resources align to delivering quality care.
As digital tools like electronic health records (EHRs), telehealth, and predictive analytics become standard, managers who can integrate these systems into workflows will be in high demand.
Skills You’ll Need
Health informatics
Regulatory compliance
Leadership skills
Budget management
Strategic planning in hybrid and digital care models
Organizations are under increasing pressure to reduce emissions, manage resources responsibly, and meet ESG goals. Sustainability specialists guide these transitions by developing climate strategies, measuring impact, and ensuring compliance with regulations and stakeholder expectations.
These roles are largely still emerging, but will play a central role in ensuring climate action shifts from ambition to execution. Specialists in this space will help organizations not just “go green,” but embed sustainability into the core of business strategy.
Skills You’ll Need
ESG reporting
Carbon accounting
Sustainability assessment
Regulatory knowledge
Systems thinking for circular economy practices.
Adults entering the Workforce today will hold 2x as many jobs in their career compared to 15 years ago.
The global energy system is in the midst of profound change, shifting away from fossil fuels toward renewables and electrification. Green energy engineers design, develop, and deploy technologies such as solar, wind, energy storage, and smart grids that make this transition possible.
Professionals in this role sit at the intersection of engineering and climate solutions, tasked with scaling infrastructure that is both reliable and sustainable. Their expertise is vital to energy security and the long-term resilience of industries and communities.
Skills You’ll Need
Renewable energy system design
Grid integration
Energy storage technologies
Data-driven energy modeling
Knowledge of environmental standards
As AI becomes a collaborator rather than just a tool, human-AI interaction designers will create the interfaces, workflows, and experiences that allow people and intelligent systems to work together effectively. This role is part designer, part behavioral scientist and part technologist.
It requires understanding both human needs and machine capabilities, ensuring that AI solutions are not only usable but ethical and aligned with how people actually work.
Skills You’ll Need
UX/UI design
Human-centered design
AI system literacy
Behavioral psychology
Ethics in human-computer interaction
Complexity is the new normal in global supply chains and resource management. Operations research analysts help organizations navigate this by applying modeling, optimization, and simulation techniques to improve efficiency and resilience.
As disruptions from climate, geopolitical shifts, and market volatility increase, these analysts will be key to designing systems that adapt under pressure. Their work ensures that businesses can keep goods moving and manage inventory well—even in uncertain conditions.
Skills You’ll Need
Data modeling
Simulations
Optimization methods
Scenario planning and forecasting
Advanced analytics
Software developers have long been essential to business innovation, but their role is evolving. Today, full-stack developers build applications that span cloud infrastructure, mobile, and web, integrating AI into the products and platforms people use every day.
As industries continue to digitize, full-stack developers will be needed to create scalable, secure, connected, and intuitive systems.
Skills You’ll Need
Full-stack programming
Cloud computing
Agile development
Performance optimization
Integration of AI and automation tools
In a technology augmented workforce, learning itself is becoming an industry. Digital learning specialists are designing platforms and programs that help workers continually upskill and reskill. They blend instructional design with emerging technologies—VR, AI, adaptive learning—to make development more effective and personalized.
These roles will grow as organizations increasingly recognize that talent is their most strategic asset. The future of work depends on how well people can adapt, and specialists in digital learning will help make that possible.
Skills You’ll Need
Instructional design
Learning technologies
Data-driven learning analytics
Curriculum development
Organizational psychology
In a job market defined by change, the most valuable investment professionals can make is in themselves.
In a job market defined by rapid change, the most valuable investment professionals can make is in themselves. Upskilling, reskilling, and lifelong learning keeps people adaptable and ready for career growth. Employers are looking for professionals who show initiative and commit to lifelong learning.
The good news? Access to learning has never been easier. Whether you’re exploring an emerging field or deepening expertise in your current role, today’s tools make skill development flexible and practical.
Some of the most effective ways to skill up include:
Online learning platforms such as Workday, Coursera, edX, and LinkedIn Learning that deliver high-quality, flexible courses.
Certifications and micro-credentials that validate specialized skills in areas like data analytics, cloud computing, or project management.
A lifelong learning mindset, with the discipline of continually seeking opportunities to learn, experiment, and grow, both inside and outside of work.
By combining structured training with a proactive approach to growth, you’ll build the resilience and versatility needed to advance your career in a world where skills are the true currency of opportunity.
Feeling the strain of rapid market changes on your talent strategy? Develop a plan to define goals, evaluate possible vendors, and unlock workforce potential with the right skills technology in this Workday Buyer's Guide.
More Reading
Small business HR teams often operate lean, but they face the same challenges as any enterprise when keeping pace with modern workforce demands. HR software built with SMBs in mind is the solution.
The HR function has become a source of strategic guidance for decisions in every part of the business. But the elevated role also comes with new challenges—learn how to solve them below.
Frontline workers make up the majority of the global workforce, but they often feel less supported than office-based peers. Leaders must act with empathy to address the challenges frontline teams face head-on.