Future job trends in global financial hubs

The global workforce is undergoing significant changes, shaped by macroeconomic factors, technological advancements, and evolving business needs. The ‘Future of Jobs Report 2025’ from the World Economic Forum highlights the need for countries and organisations to adapt through reskilling, technology adoption, and diversity-focused practices to remain competitive in this rapidly changing landscape.

Key takeaways

  • Global workforce shifts: There is a notable emphasis on reskilling to address the evolving job market.
  • Challenges: Skills gaps are a critical barrier to transformation for two-thirds of financial services organisations
  • Skills in demand: Analytical thinking, technological literacy, and AI and big data are key for financial services employers
  • Technology and automation: The human-machine dynamic is shifting, with tasks performed by humans predicted to drop from 44% currently to 28% by 2030.

 Emerging roles in key financial markets

The rise in demand for specialized roles is evident across all countries, but the financial services sector leads the charge with a striking 228% demand increase in AI and machine learning specialists by 2030. Whilst the expected global net growth is 82%, Singapore outpaces this with 128% growth, the USA at 142% and the UK stands even higher at 151%.

Conversely, whilst globally, data analyst roles are expected to grow by 40%, Germany, Singapore and UK expect lower growth rates, with only the USA projected to grow data analyst roles at a similar rate.

This could reflect the financial services’ emphasis on growing non-human tasks for improved efficiency and accuracy by 2030. Currently, across the key financial markets around 44% of tasks are performed by humans, but this is expected to decrease to around 28% by 2030. Technology’s share of tasks will rise – 38% of operations in financial services are projected to shift to automated systems by 2030.

Skills for 2030 and beyond

Analytical thinking leads as the most sought-after skill globally, required by eight in ten employers. Singapore surpasses the global average, with 84% of roles prioritizing this skill, while Germany and the USA trail modestly at around three-quarters of roles.

Technological literacy also witnesses strong demand in the financial services sector – expected to increase by 84% by 2030, although Germany lags behind Singapore, UK and USA in demand for this skillset.

Similarly, adaptability and resilience rank highly across regions. Globally, these qualities are essential for 73% of roles, with consistent emphasis across the USA, UK, and Germany at around 69%-73%.

Some of the variation in demand for analytical thinking and technological literacy across regions can be attributed to differences in priorities, economic focus, industry composition, and workforce strategies. For example, the Singapore government’s proactive initiatives emphasize equipping the workforce with advanced digital and analytical skills to maintain its competitive edge in global markets. Whilst Germany’s focus on vocational training and technical skills for its important manufacturing sector may result in a slower shift toward prioritizing technological literacy in other industries, including financial services.

Key challenges for transformation

Business transformation is not without obstacles. The financial services sector faces a steep challenge with two-thirds of organisations highlighting skills shortages as a critical concern – reflecting the sector’s demand for specialized, highly-skilled talent.

Organisations within Germany, Singapore, UK and USA fare slightly better than the financial services sector overall with regards to skills gaps in the labour market (57%, 60%, 62%, 58% respectively). This can partly be attributed to these countries having robust education systems, strong vocational training programs, large talent pools and government initiatives aimed at reskilling and upskilling the workforce.

Addressing gaps through reskilling

Reskilling and upskilling appear as dominant strategies for future readiness. Globally, four in ten individuals are projected to remain in their roles without the need for significant training by 2030. However, one in five will require redeployment, highlighting the urgency of flexible workforce strategies. Germany and the UK align with global averages in this regard but lag behind Singapore, which demonstrates superior readiness through targeted investments in workforce development.

In the financial services sector, 87% of organizations proactively prioritise workforce upskilling. This commitment ensures the workforce remains agile, especially with trends like AI’s growing capabilities.

Driving forces of technology adoption

Investments in technology are pivotal to business transformation. Financial services lead in adopting advanced technologies. With 95% of firms in this sector investing in AI solutions, the industry remains ahead of global demand, showcasing its pivotal role in pioneering technological strategy.

Globally, 86% of organizations focus on AI and advanced information processing, with similar adoption levels in the USA (92%) and the UK (92%). Singapore demonstrates an even higher adoption rate of 94%, which reflects the country’s strong tech-driven economy, rising AI adoption and its aggressive implementation.

Discover how the Global Institute of Credit Professionals can help advance your career or enhance the skills of your finance and credit teams. Reach out to us at institute@gicp.org to discuss opportunities, including our flagship Global Credit Certificate—an essential credential for staying ahead in the industry.

 

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

Future of Jobs Report 2025
 © 2025, World Economic Forum. All rights reserved.
 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License
 Disclaimer: This material is provided ‘as-is’ without any warranties, express or implied.