WEF survey flags tech advances as doubled-edged sword for jobs
The most recent report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) warns that advances in technology can be a double-edged sword, creating jobs while also requiring monitoring to protect those jobs.
The report says without appropriate decision-making frameworks there is a risk that technological development will focus on replacing human work, potentially increasing unemployment.
The caveat is included in the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, which covers the major trends that are projected to affect and disrupt the global labour market by 2030.
The survey includes the views of over 1,000 global employers, representing over 14 million workers from 22 industry clusters and 55 economies around the world.
The survey asked employers how advances in nine key technologies are transforming their businesses.
The nine categories are: AI and information processing technologies; Robots and autonomous systems; Energy generation, storage and distribution; New materials and composites; Semiconductors and computing technologies; Sensing, laser and optical technologies; Quantum and encryption; Biotechnology and gene technologies; Satellites and space technologies.
“Of the nine technologies, three stand out as being expected to have the greatest impact. Robots and autonomous systems are expected to transform 58% of employers’ businesses, while energy generation and storage technologies are expected to transform 41%.
“But it is AI and information processing technologies that are expected to have the biggest impact – with 86% of respondents expecting these technologies to transform their business by 2030,” the reports reads.
On generative AI, the report says, the technology could empower less specialised employees to perform a greater range of ‘expert’ tasks – expanding the possible functions of roles such as accounting clerks, nurses, and teaching assistants
Also, it says the technology can equip skilled professionals such as electricians, doctors or engineers with the “world’s forefront knowledge – enabling them to solve complex problems more efficiently”.
It continues: “Outcomes such as these – which create genuine shifts in the quantity or quality of output – are more likely to come about if technology development is focused on enhancing rather than substituting for human capabilities.”
However, the report cautions that without appropriate decision-making frameworks, economic incentive structures and, possibly, government regulations, there remains a risk that technological development will be focused on replacing human work, which could increase inequality and unemployment.