AI and Work: Will They Create or Destroy Jobs in 2025?

Artificial intelligence is no longer a novelty at tech expos: it is here, working alongside us and transforming every sector. From 2023 to today, millions of professionals have wondered about a question that seems to have no definitive answer. The debate between optimists and catastrophists has grown increasingly heated, and the truth — as often happens — lies in a grey zone that demands careful, data-driven analysis rather than emotion.

Creative destruction: what is really happening

According to the latest studies from the World Economic Forum, AI will cause approximately 85 million jobs to disappear by 2025, concentrated mainly in administrative roles, data entry, and standardized content production. However, the same report estimates the creation of 97 million new positions related to AI system management, prompt engineering, cybersecurity, and the design of sustainable solutions supported by artificial intelligence. The net result is positive, but the transition is far from painless.

Sectors most affected by automated replacement include customer service, technical translation, basic accounting, and entry-level digital marketing. At the same time, hybrid roles are emerging forcefully, requiring both technical and human skills — I'm thinking for example of the AI ethicist, the responsible AI manager, the digital sustainability professional. This is a phenomenon described by economists as 'creative destruction': the system destroys to recreate, but the retraining period can prove devastating for those caught off guard.

A concerning figure concerns the generational and geographic divide. Workers over 45 and communities without access to quality digital training risk being trapped in a professional limbo. Without structural interventions, AI could exacerbate existing inequalities rather than resolve them.

The role of sustainability as a compass

Sustainability is not just an environmental issue: it is a philosophical and economic framework that can guide AI development toward models that preserve human capital. Companies like Enel, Fastweb, and many Italian green startups are demonstrating that artificial intelligence, if applied with a long-term vision, can optimize energy consumption, reduce waste, and create qualified employment in local territories.

The concept of a 'just transition', borrowed from the European Green Deal debate, finds in AI a powerful ally but also a concrete risk. If we want the future of work to be sustainable, we must introduce continuous reskilling mechanisms, support for transitioning workers, and incentives for companies that hire hybrid tech-sustainability profiles. Promoting online courses is not enough: we need an integrated training ecosystem aligned with the real needs of the market.

Some European regions are already experimenting with promising models. Spain has invested in national digital upskilling plans for workers in declining sectors. Northern Italy, thanks to PNRR funds, is financing territorial technology hubs that connect universities, businesses, and training centers. These experiences show that the direction is achievable, but it requires scale and political continuity.

Skills of the future: what to cultivate today

What distinguishes professionals destined to thrive in the AI era is not the ability to compete with machines, but that of collaborating with them. The most in-demand skills include:

• Critical thinking and complex problem-solving capacity, able to evaluate AI-generated outputs and integrate them into real-world contexts
• Emotional intelligence and leadership, purely human skills that AI cannot replicate in organizational settings
• Basic and advanced digital skills, from data literacy to understanding the principles of generative AI
• Adaptability and continuous learning, the true currency of the 21st century in a market that changes in real time
• Ethical and sustainability awareness, the ability to assess the social and environmental impact of deployed technologies

Prepare, don't succumb: a practical action plan

The future of work in the AI era is not written: it is something we build every day through individual and collective choices. Here is what you can do concretely starting today.

Invest in your learning: dedicate at least three hours per week to digital training, using platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, or local initiatives funded by public bodies. Identify a hybrid skill that combines your current area of expertise with tech and sustainability skills. You don't need to become a data scientist: it is enough to understand how AI can enhance your work.

Build your professional network in cross-sector environments. Participate in communities that blend tech, sustainability, and business innovation. The most interesting opportunities often arise from the intersection of apparently distant disciplines. And finally, keep your eyes open: the market is changing rapidly, but those who can read the signals can turn sheet metal into concrete opportunity.