📱 AI and Digital Skills #2
HolonIQ is tracking reskilling and upskilling efforts to meet the rising demand for AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity skills. As these fields evolve, continuous learning is key to staying competitive and building a future-ready workforce.
This week in AI and the digital workforce, Meta has started laying off approximately 3,600 employees globally, shifting their focus on hiring data engineers as the company continues to invest heavily into AI. Crypto jobs offer significantly higher salaries than other tech sectors, with IT & Engineering roles in high demand. Software Developers and healthcare professionals lead in-demand jobs with high salaries, strong growth, and numerous openings. The Future of Jobs Report 2025 predicts AI will create 19M jobs while displacing 9M, emphasizing the need for skills like data analysis, cybersecurity, and tech literacy.
Big Data, AI/ML, and IoT specialists are projected for significant growth of over 40%. Upskilling initiatives like Samsung's "Galaxy Empowered" for teachers, and a Nigerian partnership to train 5M youth in digital skills, aim to address these evolving workforce needs. Salesforce is also investing $500M in Saudi Arabia to boost AI and workforce development.
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AI and Digital Labor Market Trends
👨💻 Meta is cutting about 3,600 jobs today, citing performance-based terminations. Employees in the US will be among the first notified, with layoffs rolling out globally over several days. Some European countries, like Germany and France, are exempt due to local laws. This follows Meta’s broader strategy of retaining top talent and letting go of lower performers. CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously signaled a focus on efficiency, aligning Meta with other tech giants like Microsoft, which also announced layoffs recently.
📶 An NFTEvening analysis of 1169 crypto/blockchain jobs reveals significant salary and demand trends. Crypto jobs pay 153% more than non-crypto jobs, 46% more than average tech jobs, and 15.86% more than AI jobs. New York leads with salaries reaching $1M annually. IT & Engineering roles are most in demand, with crypto Software Engineers earning 70% more than their non-crypto counterparts.
💸 Resume Genius, using BLS data, ranked in-demand jobs based on openings, growth, and salary. Software Developers top the list, offering a $130,160 median salary, 125,100 annual openings, and 17% growth, requiring a bachelor's degree. Following closely are Nurse Anesthetists, Midwives, and Practitioners, with a $129,480 median salary, 29,000 openings, and a significant 40% growth, requiring a master's degree. These rankings highlight promising career paths in technology and healthcare.
AI and Data Roles Projected as the Fastest-Growing Jobs, 2025–2030
👨💻 The Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlights technology as the most disruptive force shaping the labor market, with AI and information-processing advancements creating 19M jobs while displacing 9M. The fastest-growing skills, AI-driven data analysis, networking and cybersecurity, and technological literacy will be essential for workforce adaptability.
🧠 Employers must prioritize candidates with analytical and systems thinking, as AI, robotics, and automation drive job evolution. Programming expertise and adaptability to automated technologies will be crucial across industries to integrate and collaborate with evolving systems.
💻 Big Data Specialists lead job growth with a 110% increase, reflecting the demand for data-driven decision-making. AI and Machine Learning Specialists follow at 80%, fueled by automation and prediction analysis, while IoT Software Engineers/Developers are projected to grow by over 40% due to the expanding need for smart technologies.
Upskilling/Reskilling Intiatives
📱 Samsung India launched "Galaxy Empowered," a community-led initiative to upskill teachers. The nationwide free program offers training in digital tools, blended learning, and mentorship, aligning with NEP 2020. Featuring hands-on training and online resources, it empowers educators with modern methods for future classrooms, benefiting both teachers and participating schools.
💻 Nigeria's Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) and SBTS Group (US) partner to create 50,000 jobs and train 5M youth in digital skills by 2030. Aligned with Nigeria's digital economy strategy, the initiative addresses the skills gap hindering growth in sectors like finance, healthcare, and ICT. DBI's CEO calls it a "game-changer," emphasizing the need to upskill youth for a digital economy and drive inclusive growth.
🌐 Salesforce announced its investment of $500M in Saudi Arabia. This is to boost AI innovation, workforce development, and its partner ecosystem. This follows a Davos pledge to open a Riyadh headquarters. Citing growing Agentforce adoption, Salesforce will introduce Hyperforce (via AWS) to enable local workload processing for its global customers.
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