The Jobs Frontier 2025
Catalysing the Future of Workforce Development
Ufi Ventures, the UK's specialist investor in vocational technology, together with Tyton Partners, the leading strategy consultancy and investment advisor in global education, have published our fifth annual report on the future of workforce development, The Jobs Frontier 2025.
The report reflects on a year marked by political upheaval, economic uncertainty, and rapid technological change. It also explores how these trends are shaping investment priorities and public-private responses across the UK and globally, with a strategic review of the implications of 2024 alongside scenarios for the remainder of 2025.
The report also highlights growing momentum behind new public-private partnerships and a renewed policy focus on adult education, apprenticeships and regional skills development, as well as areas where further action is urgently needed.
Helen Gironi, Director of Ufi Ventures, said:
"This year’s analysis reinforces the case for targeted investment where business needs and social value align. The VocTech ecosystem has a vital role to play in enabling access to skills and opportunity—particularly for those who have historically been underserved by mainstream education and training systems. As the UK confronts economic and environmental transition, those solutions will only become more essential.”
Key takeaways from the 2025 report include:
- Macroeconomic uncertainty, demographic change, and technological acceleration are reshaping the UK workforce.
- Labour shortages remain acute, particularly in the green economy, education, health and social care, and tech.
- The new US administration’s policies have introduced considerable uncertainty and are shifting spending priorities – and perhaps jobs and skills requirements – across Europe.
- Investment in VocTech has rebounded in the UK but remains cautious globally.
- AI and automation are changing the dynamics of employment and workforce development.
- Public-private partnerships are emerging as essential to addressing systemic workforce challenges.
