New skills and AI are reshaping the future of work
Feb 28th 2026
AI and digital technology are transforming jobs worldwide: new skills are rising in demand and paying more, some roles face decline, and policy choices will determine who gains from the transition.
- One in 10 job postings in advanced economies and one in 20 in emerging market economies now require at least one new skill.
- IT accounts for more than half of demand for new skills, with digital health and social media skills rising in healthcare and marketing respectively.
- Job postings that list a new skill pay about 3 percent more in the UK and US, and listings with four or more new skills can pay up to 15 percent more in the UK and 8.5 percent more in the US.
- In the US, regions with higher adoption of new skills saw employment rise by 1.3 percent for each 1 percentage point increase in job postings requiring new skills over the past decade.
- Nearly 40 percent of global jobs are exposed to AI-driven change, and employment in AI-vulnerable occupations is about 3.6 percent lower after five years in regions with high demand for AI skills.
- Countries face different gaps: some need to boost skill supply like Brazil, Mexico and Sweden, while others need to stimulate demand like Australia, Ireland and Poland.
- Policy responses include investing in training and lifelong learning, redesigning education to complement AI, supporting labor mobility and social protection, and keeping markets competitive to spread benefits.