

Reskilling Revolution
Launched at the World Economic Forum’s 50th Annual Meeting in January 2020, the Reskilling Revolution initiative aims to provide one billion people with better education, skills and jobs by 2030.
The need to futureproof and boost people’s skills and livelihoods in the face of expected large-scale job displacement is even more urgent with the COVID-19 pandemic bringing about in months what most observers of technology-driven labour market change expected to see in years. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for change, by disrupting economic activity and fast-tracking automation and digitization, creating both devastation across labour markets and new opportunities for online learning, redeployment and reemployment. Crises and recessions often act as inflection points for widespread structural change, the full scale of which will only become apparent in hindsight. The next decade seems fated to play a pivotal role in setting the stage for the future shape of work and education far into the 21st century.

"Upskilling is one of the most urgent challenges of our time and to solve it, we need to act together, now. As a major employer in 155countries around the world, PwC has the scale and experience to make a measurable impact. We have a responsibility to help our people, clients and communities prepare for the future but we can’t succeed on our own. As part of our upskilling efforts, we’re asking everyone to join the World Economic Forum’s Reskilling Revolution platform and us so that we can prepare everyone, everywhere for the digital world. "Bob Moritz
Global Chairman PwC Network

"With new technologies and trends impacting the world of work, companies are facing genuine challenges in recruiting people with the skillsets needed to capture the opportunities ahead. Therefore, in order to equip individuals to successfully participate in the world of work and enable businesses to find the skills they need to be competitive, we must focus on upskilling and reskilling. We fully support a ‘reskilling revolution’ and pledge to upskill and reskill 5 million people globally by 2030. "Alain Dehaze
Chief Executive Officer The Adecco Group

"The largest generation of young people in history is about to inherit the world – and they’re facing a global learning and skills crisis. The private sector must work with governments to help close the skills gap and give young people the ladders of opportunity they need to reach their potential. The possibilities are endless and the need is urgent "Henrietta H. Fore
Executive Director, United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF

"We are excited to partner with the World Economic Forum through the Reskilling Revolution initiative. As availability of digital talent continues to be one of the greatest barriers for enterprises to transform, organizations need to nurture a culture that enables talent – across disciplines and skills – to benefit from a continuum of lifelong learning that prepares them for the future of work. We are keen to help drive the transformation. "Salil Parekh
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Infosys

"The global nature of the skills crisis requires institutions to collaborate at an unprecedented scale in order to provide lifelong access to high-quality learning. As part of this coalition, we are excited to work with governments, industry accelerators, and universities around the world to equip the global workforce with the skills needed to advance careers, boost employability and stimulate inclusive economic growth. "Jeff Maggioncalda
Chief Executive Officer Coursera Inc.

"We need to make sure the Fourth Industrial Revolution brings everyone along with the education and skills to succeed, That’s why as part of the Reskilling Revolution, Salesforce will help train 1 million people with resume-worthy skills and reach 10 million active users on Trailhead, our free online learning platform, within the next five years. "Marc Benioff
Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer Salesforce

"Our research shows us that jobs emerging in the global economy span a wide range of professions and skills. They will provide opportunities for workers of all backgrounds and educational levels. But for all of the opportunities that the new economy will bring, the stark skills and gender gaps that exist today – especially in these fast-growing and emerging jobs – must be addressed now if we want to ensure that the Fourth Industrial Revolution is an equitable one. "Allen Blue
Co-Founder and Vice-President, Products LinkedIn

"Unions demand that nobody be left behind, with measures to ensure a “just transition” to a low-carbon, high-tech economy. These involve guaranteed pensions for older workers, income support, redeployment support and access to retraining. Lifelong learning is central, as technology impacts on workers’ tasks and creates a continuous need to upgrade skills. "Sharan Burrow
General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)

"More than half of companies around the world cannot find the skills they are looking for – almost double what it was a decade ago. And the need for a Skills Revolution – which we predicted four years ago – continues to be the defining challenge of our time. Organizations have to act differently. Creating shareholder value can only be done in conjunction with taking care of employees, customers and communities. And that includes the responsibility to help people learn new skills, adapt for future jobs and to become creators of talent. "Jonas Prising
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer ManpowerGroup

"A shift to lifelong learning is essential if we are to harness technology for our benefit, rather than allowing ourselves to be swept along by the tide. At the same time, if all and not the few are to benefit, we need to re-examine and renew our concept of the social contract, so that we have the foundations on which technology can shape a better future. "Guy Ryder
Director-General, International Labour Organization (ILO)
The Reskilling Revolution Platform will enable existing coalitions and business-led initiatives to create systemic change. Together, the founding partners of this movement have the capacity to reach 250 million people worldwide.


The New Economy and Society team at the World Economic Forum is the global secretariat for the Reskilling Revolution. The purpose of the unit is to advance prosperous, inclusive and equitable economies and societies. Working together, partners who engage in this work deepen their understanding of complex issues, shape new models and standards and drive scalable, collaborative action for systemic change. Over 100 of the world’s leading companies and 100 international, civil society and academic organizations currently work through the Platform.

"The best way to foster a more cohesive and inclusive society is to provide everybody with a decent job and income. Here in Davos, we are creating a public-private platform to give one billion people the skills they need in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The scale and urgency of this transformation calls for nothing short of a reskilling revolution. "Klaus Schwab
Founder and Executive Chairman World Economic Forum

"Technological change, patterns of globalization and the green transition pose great risks to people’s livelihoods. An urgent investment in human capital is needed to revive pathways to social mobility and create a fairer world. By mobilizing industry leaders, government, international organizations, professional networking platforms, online and offline staffing firms and education and training providers, Reskilling Revolution aims to provide better jobs, education and skills to 1 billion people by 2030. "Saadia Zahidi
Managing Director New Economy and Society at the World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is committed to improving the state of the world by engaging industry, government and civil society leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.