The world of work isn’t just changing, it’s picking up speed. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 says we’ll see 170 million new jobs worldwide by 2030. At the same time, 92 million jobs will disappear. That’s a net gain of 78 million jobs, but it’s not as simple as it sounds.
For Africa, and especially Nigeria, that shift brings both opportunity and risk. The continent’s young population could be a huge advantage. But if people don’t get the right skills or governments don’t put the right policies in place, Africa risks falling behind again as the global economy goes digital fast.
The WEF drew from over a thousand global companies for its report. What did it find? We’re heading into an era powered by technology, shifting demographics, and the green transition. Artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and advanced data analytics aren’t just changing industries, they’re rewriting the rules of work itself.
Yes, lots of jobs are fading away, but new ones are popping up in fields like healthcare, education, farming, logistics, and clean energy, areas that matter a lot in Africa. Think about it: farmworkers, delivery drivers, care workers, and teachers are some of the fastest-growing jobs through 2030.
In Nigeria, most people work in farming or informal services. This shift could open huge doors, if young people get the right training. That means investing in digital skills, green energy, and hands-on job training so millions can land future-ready work.
Here’s the tricky part: the real problem isn’t a lack of jobs. It’s a lack of skills. By 2030, nearly 40 per cent of job skills will be different. But 63 per cent of employers already say they can’t find workers with the right skills. Picture the global workforce as 100 people, 59 need to retrain or upskill before 2030, but 11 won’t get that shot.
In Africa, the gap’s even bigger. Too many schools still teach old material that doesn’t fit today’s world. Tech skills like AI, data analysis, and cybersecurity are rare. Creative thinking, grit, and teamwork aren’t getting enough attention either.
Still, there’s hope. Nigeria’s tech scene—home to companies like Andela and Flutterwave, proves Africans can compete globally. But to make that success the norm, education, government, and business need to work together and stay in sync.
AI is the engine driving all this change. The WEF says half of employers plan to reshape their operations to use AI. Most, 77 per cent want to train their teams for new skills. But 41 per cent say they’ll cut jobs as automation grows.
That’s a tough spot for Africa, where unemployment is already high but digital tech is spreading fast. The answer isn’t to fight AI. It’s to help people learn how to work with it. Reskilling, coding bootcamps, and quick, flexible learning tools can turn job losses into new opportunities.
Africa’s greatest strength? Its young people. While Europe and parts of Asia are getting older, Africa’s population is young and growing. By 2030, Africans will make up nearly a third of the world’s workers. This could be a game-changer, if countries invest in education, mentoring, and digital access.
For Nigeria, the priority is clear: make sure education lines up with the jobs market. Government, businesses, and development groups need to team up to create apprenticeships, technical training, and lifelong learning.
The WEF is pushing for a global effort to close the skills gap. Its Reskilling Revolution Initiative wants to teach a billion people new skills by 2030. For Africa, joining in isn’t just a good idea, it’s a must.
The future of work isn’t some far-off idea. It’s already here. The real question is whether Nigeria and the rest of Africa will get their people ready to thrive, or let automation and inequality pull them further apart. With smart investments in skills, digital access, and innovation, Africa doesn’t just have to keep up, it can lead the way.
