Skills of the future are being reshaped by digital twins – a technology that replicates objects, processes, or systems in virtual environments, are transforming entire industries — and now, they’re reshaping the job market. What began as a tool to boost industrial efficiency is now changing which jobs will exist and which skills will be essential in the years ahead.
For example, companies such as Siemens, General Electric, and Tesla are already leveraging digital twins to simulate entire factories, optimize production workflows, and predict equipment failures before they occur in the physical world. Siemens uses its Electrical Digital Twin to provide utilities with a unified model across their IT landscape, enabling smarter grid planning and maintenance. General Electric’s SmartSignal platform monitors over 7,000 critical assets worldwide, helping clients avoid more than $1.6 billion in operational costs through predictive analytics and process optimization. Meanwhile, Tesla creates a digital twin for every vehicle sold—over 1.8 million in 2023 alone—to gather real-time data on battery performance, motor function, and autopilot behavior, which informs software updates and advances autonomous driving capabilities.
As digital twins become more integrated into industrial operations, their influence extends beyond efficiency gains, prompting deeper questions about automation, workforce displacement, and the evolving nature of employment.
Smart Automation: Threat or Opportunity?
When talking about digital twins as part of the skills of the future, what’s really important is that thanks to smart automation, many routine and repetitive tasks can now be performed with minimal human intervention (and therefore less occupational hazards), thanks to technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and robotic process automation. This shift poses significant risks to traditional roles, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, maintenance, and logistics, where up to 60% of occupations have at least 30% of their activities that are technically automatable. For example, predictive physical tasks in manufacturing have an automation potential of 81%, while data processing and collection tasks in logistics reach 69% and 64%, respectively.
Yet, not everything is lost. As automation displaces certain job categories, it simultaneously creates new ones that demand a different set of capabilities. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, automation and AI are expected to disrupt 22% of current jobs by 2030, but also create 170 million new roles globally, resulting in a net gain of 78 million jobs. These emerging roles include AI ethics consultants, automation specialists, and industrial data analysts, which blend technical proficiency with strategic thinking and human oversight.
The real challenge lies in preparing the workforce for this transition. As routine tasks fade, the demand for critical thinking, digital literacy, and adaptive problem-solving rises. In this context, smart automation is not just a threat—it’s a catalyst for redefining work and unlocking new opportunities.
The skills of tomorrow
Companies will increasingly look for profiles that combine technical skills with strategic thinking. Some of the most in-demand skills will be:
- Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence
- 3D Modeling and Digital Simulation
- Cybersecurity in industrial environments
- Intelligent Systems Management
- Adaptability and creativity
Soft skills will continue to be irreplaceable and notably critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration.
New job opportunities
The growth of the digital twin market opens up roles that did not exist before:
- Digital twin designer
- Simulation Engineer
- Maintenance coordinator with augmented reality
- Industrial Data Analyst
A challenge for education and public policy
The rise of digital twin technology presents a profound challenge for education systems and employment policies worldwide. As industries evolve rapidly, traditional curricula and vocational training models are struggling to keep pace. Institutions must pivot toward future-focused learning, integrating digital simulation, data analytics, and intelligent systems into their programs. Innovative approaches like immersive learning environments—which combine digital twins with extended reality (XR) and metaverse platforms—are already being piloted to simulate smart factories and train students in real-world scenarios without physical risk or resource constraints.
Governments, too, face mounting pressure to ensure that digital transformation is inclusive. According to McKinsey, up to 375 million workers globally may need to switch occupational categories by 2030 due to automation and AI disruption. This shift demands large-scale investment in reskilling and upskilling initiatives, especially for mid-career and lower-skilled workers who are most vulnerable to displacement. Programs like Singapore’s SkillsFuture and the UK’s National Retraining Scheme are early examples of how public policy can support lifelong learning and career transitions.
Moreover, the challenge extends beyond technical skills. Public policy must also address social equity, ensuring that posted workers, migrants, and underserved communities have access to training, digital infrastructure, and employment pathways. The European Union, for instance, has committed to upskilling 120 million adults annually and increasing participation in digital learning by 67% to close the skills gap.
Ultimately, preparing the workforce for a digital twin-driven economy will require collaboration between governments, educators, and industry leaders. Without coordinated action, the promise of technological progress risks deepening inequality rather than bridging it.
Conclusion
Digital twins are closer than it seems. They will not only transform how factories or hospitals work, but how we work and what we learn. The real question is not whether this technology will arrive, but whether we are ready to live and grow. You can certainly do that by sticking with us.
Sources:
- Just transition: targeted training of workers can turn challenges into opportunities | The European Economic and Social Committee
- Training the Future Workforce – Digital Twins and the Educational Metaverse | Digital Twin Project
- Retraining and reskilling workers in the age of automation | McKinsey Global Institute
- A Future That Works: Automation, Employment, And Productivity | McKinsey Global Institute
- Retraining scheme launched to tackle AI job losses | HR Magazine
- Reskilling schemes benefit workers, employers and governments | EUROPEAN CEO
- The Impact of AI and Automation on Jobs: What to Expect in 2025 | Zazz
- Electrical Digital Twin | Siemens
- GE Vernova’s SmartSignal Predictive analytics | GE Vernova
- Tesla’s Digital Twins | Mike Kalil
