Remote digital jobs to surge: WEF predicts 92 million by 2030
In a rapidly digitising world, the landscape of employment is undergoing a significant transformation. According to a new white paper by the World Economic Forum (WEF), in collaboration with tech firm Capgemini, global digital jobs are poised to surge to approximately 92 million by 2030.
This surge represents a remarkable evolution in the nature of work, with an increasing emphasis on remote capabilities and digital proficiency.
The paper explores the realm of digital jobs that can be performed remotely from anywhere, shedding light on the changing dynamics of the global workforce. As of 2024, the number of such digital jobs stands at 73 million.
However, by 2030, this figure is expected to balloon by roughly 25%, reaching the impressive milestone of 92 million.
"This exponential growth in digital jobs is skewed more towards higher-paying roles," the paper notes, attributing this trend to the proliferation of higher-wage global digital jobs and a decline in lower-wage equivalents. Additionally, the emergence of new global digital jobs is predominantly characterised by high- and middle-income roles, further reshaping the economic landscape of employment.
The paper identifies 218 job types out of 5,400 that are conducive to becoming digital jobs. These job categories encompass a diverse array of sectors and disciplines, collectively representing 73 million workers out of the 820 million total global workforce, as per the International Labour Organisation's occupational employment statistics.
Notably, 40% of these digital jobs are concentrated in accounting, legal, and finance roles, highlighting the increasing digitisation within these traditionally conservative domains. Furthermore, customer service representatives, marketing, advertising, communication professionals, and IT professionals each account for around 10% of total digital jobs, underscoring the widespread impact of digitisation across various sectors.
The proliferation of global digital jobs presents both opportunities and challenges for employers and economies worldwide. From an employer perspective, leveraging remote digital talent allows for the utilisation of diverse skill sets from around the world, thereby expanding talent pools and fostering innovation.
Moreover, this trend holds the potential to fuel economic growth pathways for countries embracing digital transformation initiatives.
However, realising the full potential of global digital jobs necessitates addressing critical infrastructure and skill development challenges. The report emphasises the importance of broad access to digital infrastructure, educational, and vocational training programs to equip individuals with the necessary digital competencies.
Moreover, fostering a culture that prioritises skills and talent over traditional wage considerations is essential for fostering a competitive workforce ecosystem.
"Global employers need to complement traditional approaches to workforce management with new tools," the report highlights, advocating for the proactive expansion of recruitment pools and the adoption of hybrid operating models that accommodate remote work arrangements for all employees. This strategic approach to workforce management is crucial for navigating the evolving dynamics of the global labour market and maximising the potential of digitalisation for economic growth and prosperity.