AI to create 85 million net new jobs by 2030, but uneven impact looms large

The World Economic Forum projects that AI and automation will displace around 85 million jobs globally by 2030, while simultaneously generating roughly 170 million new ones, yielding a net gain of 85 million positions. However, major institutions including McKinsey, the OECD, and the IMF warn that these aggregate figures mask deep inequalities across sectors, skill levels, and geographies. Rather than sudden mass layoffs, analysts describe a prolonged restructuring where job roles evolve — for example, administrative workers shifting from data entry to overseeing AI-driven workflows. Low-skilled workers in repetitive, rule-based roles such as data processing, customer service, and basic logistics face the greatest displacement risk, while professions requiring creativity, complex problem-solving, and human interaction show stronger resilience. Countries with lower digitalisation rates, including Italy, risk widening the gap with more advanced economies unless substantial reskilling and workforce transition policies are put in place.