Reskilling Revolution: Preparing 1 Billion People for Tomorrow’s Economy

The rapid advancement of technology will transform over 1.1 billion jobs within the next decade, making human capital more urgently needed than ever. The World Economic Forum (WEF) is collaborating with over 350 organizations to enhance education, skill development, and economic opportunities for 1 billion people by 2030 to address this challenge.

The Impact of the Reskilling Revolution

Since its launch in January 2020, the Reskilling Revolution has benefited over 100 million people worldwide, equipping them with the skills to navigate the evolving job market. As automation and artificial intelligence reshape industries, this initiative prepares the global workforce for the future.

At the core of this effort is a commitment from over 55 CEOs, recognizing that a well-trained and motivated workforce drives value for businesses, communities, and the planet. The initiative has also secured support from 21 ministers across 11 countries, fostering a broad, collaborative approach to reskilling.

A Global Multi-Stakeholder Effort

The Reskilling Revolution brings together a diverse community, including businesses, learning institutions, labor unions, NGOs, and education practitioners. Founding members include organizations such as Adecco, Coursera, Dubai Cares, The Education Commission, the Government of France, iamthecode, Infosys, LinkedIn, ManpowerGroup, PwC, Salesforce, and UNICEF.

Public-private partnerships have been established in countries like South Africa, Bahrain, Pakistan, and Cambodia, while economies such as Finland and Singapore contribute by sharing best practices. Through the Reskilling Revolution platform, these global partners collaborate, exchange knowledge, and tailor approaches to address skill and education gaps effectively.

This growing network is helping to future-proof the global workforce, ensuring that individuals have the necessary skills to thrive in an increasingly automated world.

The Challenge: Navigating Workforce Transformation

Technological advancements, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the transition to a greener economy are reshaping the labor market, posing risks to job security and economic stability. According to the Future of Jobs Report 2020, by 2025, the time humans and machines spend on tasks at work will be equal. Without urgent investment in human capital, the widening skills gap will hinder economic progress and prevent individuals from reaching their full potential.

The OECD estimates that 1.1 billion jobs will significantly transform in the next decade due to automation and emerging technologies. While the overall net impact of job creation and decline is expected to be positive, outdated learning programs contribute to an increasing mismatch between skills and job market needs. Currently, only 0.5% of global GDP is allocated to adult lifelong learning, despite research indicating that large-scale investment in reskilling could boost global GDP by $6.5 trillion by 2030.

As Jonas Prising, CEO of ManpowerGroup, states, businesses must rethink their role: “Creating shareholder value can only be done in conjunction with taking care of employees, customers, and communities. That includes helping people acquire new skills, adapt to future jobs, and become creators of talent.”

A Strategic Approach to Reskilling

The World Economic Forum’s Reskilling Revolution platform is designed to drive large-scale workforce transformation through three core strategies: securing commitments, co-developing solutions, and connecting stakeholders.

To achieve measurable impact, the initiative focuses on:

• New financing mechanisms to increase investment in lifelong learning
• Policy innovation to support workforce adaptability
• More decisive business leadership in talent development
• Comprehensive measurement tools to track progress
• Faster training delivery models for efficiency
• Updated skills frameworks aligned with evolving industry needs

The Roadmap for 2022-2024

The initiative aims to accelerate reskilling and upskilling efforts worldwide, targeting at least 300 million workers and adult learners. By promoting skills-based labor markets, the program seeks to create greater job security and economic opportunity.

Additionally, education is positioned as a pillar of economic recovery, with efforts to modernize teaching and learning systems. By 2024, the initiative aims to benefit 150 million students and young learners, equipping them with the skills necessary for the future economy.

Impact and Implementation

Since its launch, the Reskilling Revolution has made significant progress in driving workforce transformation at both national and regional levels. For example, the initiative has led to over 50 strategic engagements in Bahrain, including expert consultations, focus groups, and action plans to close skills gaps. Between 2020 and 2021, these collaborations resulted in:

• 1,879 employees receiving upskilling opportunities
• Over 13,400 jobseekers improving their employability
• More than 43,000 students engaged in work-readiness programs

By fostering collaboration among governments, businesses, and education providers, the Reskilling Revolution lays the foundation for a future-ready workforce that is resilient, adaptable, and equipped to thrive in a rapidly changing job market.

Get Involved in the Reskilling Revolution

The World Economic Forum’s Centre for the New Economy and Society is the global hub for the Reskilling Revolution, driving efforts to build more prosperous, inclusive, and equitable economies and societies. Through collaboration, stakeholders gain insights into complex challenges, develop innovative models and standards, and implement large-scale initiatives for systemic change.

The Centre works alongside leading global companies, international organizations, civil society groups, and academic institutions to shape the future of work. Its efforts focus on:

• Enhancing workforce competitiveness through new economic models
• Equipping workers with future-ready skills through education and training
• Developing a pro-worker and pro-business jobs agenda
• Advancing equality and inclusion within the evolving economic landscape

By fostering collaboration across industries and sectors, the Centre for the New Economy and Society is leading the way in shaping a resilient, adaptable workforce prepared to navigate the future.