Last week a friend told me his customer‑service team had just been cut in half, and the reason was simple: the company now uses an AI chatbot that never sleeps. Two days later I met a young data analyst who had landed a brand‑new role as an “AI prompt designer.” One coffee break, two very different outcomes that is the job market in 2025.
What the World Economic Forum Says
The World Economic Forum’s latest Future of Jobs Report 2025 counts
- 170 million new roles on the horizon
- 92 million roles likely to disappear
That is a net gain of roughly 78 million jobs, but the shift will feel huge if you happen to be on the wrong side of the numbers.
Where Jobs Are Disappearing
- Simple office work – data entry, basic scheduling, invoice matching
- Customer support tiers 1 and 2 – many questions are now answered by smart chatbots
- Junior coding tasks – auto‑code tools write boiler‑plate faster than a new hire
Where Jobs Are Popping Up
- AI prompt and workflow design – turning business questions into good AI prompts
- Data ethics and compliance – checking that models stay fair and legal
- Green‑tech technicians – AI is speeding up clean‑energy projects and the workers who build them
What Other Reports Highlight
- OECD 2025 brief: six in ten workers will need new digital skills by 2027
- LinkedIn Hiring Insights: AI‑related job ads tripled in the past 18 months
Why Companies Still Talk Layoffs While Hiring
Think of it like pruning a tree. Branches that block the light are cut back, while healthy ones grow faster. Firms drop routine tasks and invest in roles that add new value.
Three Straight‑Talk Questions You Should Ask Yourself
- Can my daily work be written down as clear steps? If yes, an algorithm can probably learn it.
- Do I create, curate or judge data? If yes, you’re closer to the growth side.
- When did I last learn a brand‑new tool? If you can’t recall, now is the time.
How to Stay on the Sunny Side
- Upskill in chunks, not marathons. Take short courses on prompt design, data literacy or low‑code tools.
- Pair with AI instead of fighting it. Use chatbots to speed up first drafts, then add your human insight.
- Show your soft skills. Empathy, clear writing and problem framing sit outside most algorithms.
What Leaders Should Keep in Mind
- Retraining beats rehiring. It is cheaper and boosts morale.
- Transparency wins trust. Tell teams early which tasks are likely to change.
- Measure value, not hours. AI can finish a project in minutes; the old nine‑to‑five clock no longer applies.
Looking Ahead
Yes, AI will cut jobs we once thought safe. It will also create jobs we can hardly picture today just like social‑media managers did not exist fifteen years ago. The real challenge is speed. This wave is faster than any tech shift before it. The opportunity is also bigger.
Join the Conversation
Have you already seen roles vanish or appear in your company because of AI? Share your story in the comments. We learn more when we swap notes.