WEF’s Reskilling Initiative to Reach 1 Billion People

The World Economic Forum (WEF) announced new global commitments to workforce development as its Reskilling Revolution initiative moves closer to its goal of improving access to education, skills, and economic opportunity for 1 billion people by 2030.

The initiative has mobilized commitments projected to reach 856 million people worldwide, according to the WEF. The effort spans 79 economies and 18 industries and is supported by more than 350 organizations and over 35 chief executives.

The latest announcements come as AI, geoeconomic shifts, and the energy transition reshape labor markets. The new commitments include corporate pledges, university-employer partnerships, and national skills accelerators designed to change how people enter the workforce, transition between jobs, and maintain employability in roles increasingly influenced by AI.

Over 25 technology companies have pledged to support 120 million workers by 2030 through expanded access to AI tools, digital technologies, skills training and job pathways. Participating firms include Adobe, Cornerstone OnDemand, Cisco, JD.com, SAP, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Snowflake, Wipro, and Workday. A broader group of companies involved in the pledge includes Cognizant, Accenture, IBM, HP, Dell, and e&, representing organizations from the United States, the European Union, the Middle East, India, and Japan.

The company's commitments focus on expanding free access to AI and digital technologies, equipping workers with digital, AI, and human skills, and creating pathways into digital careers for people without formal technical backgrounds. Across the initiative, many programs prioritize entry-level roles considered more exposed to labor market disruption.

“The global economy is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades,” says Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, WEF. “How it unfolds for workers depends on opportunities for learning, support for job transitions, and backing for entrepreneurship.”

Since January 2020, the Reskilling Revolution has mobilized mainly system-level commitments projected to reach more than 856 million people worldwide by 2030, including through public policy, corporate strategy, and education-to-employment pathways.

Although many initiatives concentrate on digital capabilities such as AI, big data, and technological literacy, business leaders also place significant emphasis on attitudes and human-centered skills, including leadership, curiosity, and resilience. More than half of the efforts also focus on preparing workers for roles linked to the green transition.

Founding members of the initiative’s multistakeholder community of over 350 organizations include the Adecco Group, the government of the United Arab Emirates, iamtheCODE, Infosys, the Lego Foundation, LinkedIn, ManpowerGroup, PwC, Salesforce, and UNICEF.

A central challenge is that labor markets are changing more rapidly than education, training, and talent systems can adjust. The Future of Jobs Report 2025 estimates that job disruption could affect 22% of roles by 2030, leading to the creation of 170 million new positions while displacing 92 million workers.

As a result, workforce transitions are increasing in scale, frequency, and uncertainty across economies and industries, as learning, talent development, and credentialing systems struggle to keep pace. “Reskilling is not just about adapting to change; it is about empowering people and communities to thrive in an intelligent age,” said Claudia Azevedo, CEO, Sonae.