The future of roles in finance and capital markets

GICP Expert View / 27 January, 2025

The financial services and capital markets sectors are undergoing rapid transformation fueled by technological advances, skill shifts and evolving workforce strategies according to the ‘Future of Jobs Report 2025’ from the World Economic Forum. This evolving landscape promises growth for those who adapt quickly but poses challenges for roles resistant to change.

Below is a summary of the key insights on roles within finance and capital markets from the ‘Future of Jobs Report 2025’.

Key takeaways:

Adaptability is key: Future roles require blending technical proficiency (e.g., AI, big data, and cybersecurity) with soft skills like leadership and resilience.
Strategic focus: Professionals must align their skills with areas like AI innovation, data insights, and digital financial systems to remain competitive and valuable.
Proactive upskilling: Leveraging corporate opportunities to reskill will determine career longevity in a technology-driven workplace.

Business transformation

Business transformation is being driven by:

Broadening digital access
Rising cost of living, and higher prices and inflation
Sustainability and environmental efforts

AI integration is reshaping job roles, with 86% of organizations in financial services and capital markets identifying AI and big data as crucial drivers for business transformation. This indicates a rising demand for specialists in:

AI and machine learning
Data analysis
Business intelligence

Workforce transformation

The sector is experiencing significant labor-market churn driven by automation and changing business needs. Organizations predict widespread changes to core skills, with nearly 41% of current skill sets expected to evolve within the next five years.

Skills expected to become increasingly valuable in the future include:

AI and big data
Technological literacy
Networks and cybersecurity
Resilience, flexibility and agility

The proportion of tasks being automated is expected to increase from 21% in 2025 to 38% by 2030. Only 28% of tasks are expected to be human driven by 2030, underscoring the need for individuals to upskill in automated workflows and AI tools. AI and machine learning specialists, and data analysts and scientists are emerging as the roles with the highest rate of growth.

To read the full ‘Future of Jobs Report 2025’ visit the World Economic Forum website.

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Future of Jobs Report 2025
© 2025, World Economic Forum. All rights reserved.
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