The Best Age to Pursue a Digital Marketing Online Degree: 25 or 35?

The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025  explores significant shifts in global labor markets. It examines new workforce strategies, talent availability, and the accelerating influence of technology, especially AI. This report offers vital insights for professionals evaluating their career paths and considering further education, such as a Digital Marketing Online Degree at 25 vs. 35, to remain competitive.

Barriers to Organizational Transformation

Businesses face key obstacles to transformation. Skill gaps in the labor market represent the primary barrier, cited by 63% of employers. This challenge appears across most industries and regions. Organizational culture and resistance to change is the second biggest hurdle (46%). Regulatory issues also present a notable barrier (39%). Lack of data and technical infrastructure is another challenge (32%). These findings underscore the need for continuous skill development.

Talent Availability Outlook

The outlook for talent availability has declined. Only 29% of businesses expect talent availability to improve from 2025-2030. In contrast, 42% anticipate a decline, leading to a net negative expectation. This highlights increasing employer concern over finding future talent. However, optimism remains higher for talent development, with 70% expecting internal improvements. Talent retention also shows less positivity, with only 44% expecting improvements.

Key Workforce Strategies

Upskilling the workforce is the most common strategy, planned by 85% of surveyed employers. Process and task automation is the second strategy (73%). Many employers also intend to complement their workforce with new technologies (63%). Hiring new staff with in-demand skills is planned by 70%. These strategies emphasize continuous learning and adaptation. A Digital Marketing Online Degree at 25 vs. 35 can align with upskilling needs.

Improving Talent Availability

Employers use several business practices to increase talent availability. Supporting employee health and well-being is now a top priority (64%). Providing effective reskilling and upskilling opportunities is also crucial (63%). Improving talent progression and promotion processes remains a key focus (62%). Offering higher wages is a priority for 50% of respondents. Tapping into diverse talent pools is increasingly important (47%).

Approaches to Skills Assessment

Work experience remains the most common assessment mechanism in hiring (81%). Skills assessments are used by 48% of employers, showing a growing focus on direct competency testing. Psychometric tests are planned by 34%. Requiring a university degree is still common (43%), but employers increasingly prioritize practical skills over traditional credentials. This shift benefits individuals who gain relevant skills, like those acquired through a digital marketing online degree.

Impact of AI on Workforce Strategies

AI and information processing technologies are expected to transform businesses by 2030 (86%). Half of executives see a lack of skills as the top barrier to AI adoption. Workforce strategies respond to AI by focusing on reskilling existing staff (77%). Recruiting talent skilled in AI tool design (69%) and working with AI (62%) is also key. Almost half of organizations expect to reorient business models around AI opportunities.