Workplace transformation: 10% of workers hired this year hold job titles that didn't exist in 2000

Workplace transformation is accelerating at an unprecedented pace. In 2024, 10% of workers hired globally hold job titles that didn't exist in 2000, including positions like Sustainability Manager, AI Engineer, and Social Media Manager, which are now commonplace.

The emergence of new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and increased focus on sustainability are the prime reasons behind the demand for new job roles. In fact, in the next 5 years, innovations in AI would mean 70% of the skills professionals employ at their existing jobs would have changed, the report noted.

In a study of more than 5,000 global business leaders, LinkedIn noted that 82% of leaders in India agree that the pace of change at work is speeding up as demand for new roles, skills, and technologies increases. And yes, the speed of change is overwhelming, with 64% of professionals worldwide acknowledging the ultra-rapid swiftness of this transformation.

Global business leaders recognize the transformative potential of generative AI, with seven in 10 making it a top priority to adopt AI tools in 2025. In other words, our jobs are changing every single second, even if we are not changing our jobs.

This is also reflected in the professional experiences of executives. In 2023, 66% of executives had only ever worked across one industry. But now, about 88% of working professionals have work experience spanning multiple industries and domains.

Today, college graduates are likely to hold twice as many jobs during the span of their career as compared to their older counterparts, i.e., those who graduated 15 years ago.

"As we look to 2025, businesses increasingly prioritize AI adoption, alongside meaningful investments in upskilling and reskilling their people. Embracing AI is not just about keeping pace; it's about empowering teams, fostering innovation, and creating resilient workforces ready to thrive," Ruchee Anand, India Head at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, said.

However, it is not just about AI skills; employers are also increasingly prioritizing human skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and customer skills. This comes amidst employees managing a deluge of challenges at work, the most important of which include integrating AI into daily work, successfully tackling remote working, and effectively navigating multi-generational teams at work. However, over the past year, there has been a 13% dip in the number of postings related to remote and hybrid roles in the US.

In India, 69% of HR professionals report that expectations of them at work have never been higher. Additionally, six in 10 admit that experience alone is no longer enough to stay competitive, with over half acknowledging that career growth now depends on embracing AI.