The Future of Jobs Report 2025 and the Importance of Co-Design

?? A Team4Tech Article by Dr. Jody Britten ??

Co-design is a collaborative approach that involves the end-users as active participants in shaping programs, supports, experiences, and interventions. Now more than ever, educators, organizations, and employers need to leverage co-design to ensure that every learner (regardless of age, gender, or location) can access quality learning experiences.?

The World Economic Forum recently published the Future of Jobs Report 2025, which shares labor market trends, macro trends shaping the future, and strategies for workforce transformation. It covers technological advancements, climate action, demographic shifts, geoeconomic fragmentation, and the evolution of job roles and skills from 2025 to 2030.

Four key ideas shared in this newest report include:?

• Current skills will be outdated, and 59% of workers will need re-skilling?
• Critical thinking, creativity, adaptability, and technological literacy are among the most in-demand skills?
• Cultivating learner capacity to engage in lifelong learning is not something we can ignore
• Roles in education are among the largest areas of job growth globally. There is a lot of need, and a lot changing in how learners access education?

When I read through this report (and compare it to the previous 2023 Future of Jobs report) I see clear actions and recommendations that focus on how children and young adults learn, experience learning, and prepare for the current and future workforce.

Unsurprisingly, AI and big data are still driving demand for new skills. One of the most intriguing insights is how tasks are expected to be divided by 2030. We’re looking at an even split between human-led (33%), machine-led (33%), and collaborative (34%) work—showing just how central human-machine partnerships will become.?

The call to action for educators and organizations is to understand the complexities of developing a workforce ready to participate in this new task division. Yet, how are new solutions integrating educator voices? How are educators and organizations co-designing with workforce leaders to address workforce needs and trends?

The newest Jobs Report data is not all about technology. Analytical thinking remains the top desired skill, but for the first time, environmental stewardship has made its way into the top ten. "Green skills" and job postings for sustainability-related roles are rising. Conversely, we see challenges in addressing science and engineering education in ways that will inspire students to engage in these careers.?

Despite current pushback around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), employers are stepping up on DEI initiatives, with 83% now actively working on these initiatives.?

Still, challenges remain for educators and organizations to address the development of skills and dispositions that will lend themselves to the foundation of these competencies that are of growing importance.?

Taken together, the report offers a clear message: the future of work isn’t just about technology, it's about the human skills and agency that power the emerging workforce.? Addressing humans, machines, innovation, sustainability,? equity, and efficiency— the World Economic Forum is calling for more thoughtful, inclusive, and forward-thinking approaches to how we work and live.

Supporting our communities to have a voice in the design of programs that cultivate the future workforce should be at the top of our collective priority list. There is a need for training and development. We must be sure that those efforts are co-designed with educators and organizations on the front lines of education.?

We can leverage the efforts in every classroom today to help meet the demands of tomorrow.?