The Economist · 21 Oct, 18:08 · Business briefing

How the 2010s remade business

The Economist’s analysis examines how the 2010s fundamentally transformed global business structures.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

The Economist’s analysis examines how the 2010s fundamentally transformed global business structures. Key shifts include the rapid digitisation of markets, the rise of platform economies, and significant changes in regulatory frameworks. The report highlights how traditional corporate models adapted to increased connectivity and data-driven decision-making. It details the emergence of new industry leaders and the decline of legacy sectors unable to pivot effectively. This overview provides a factual baseline for understanding the structural economic changes that defined the decade, offering context for current market dynamics and future strategic planning in a rapidly evolving professional landscape.

Employer demand for Project Management skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

You must adapt to a landscape where digital fluency is non-negotiable. The 2010s proved that agility and data literacy outweigh traditional hierarchical experience. Focus on developing skills in strategic planning and digital transformation. If you remain in legacy roles, you risk obsolescence. Instead, prioritise learning how to leverage technology for efficiency. Develop your ability to interpret complex data sets and drive innovation within your team. You should also strengthen your change management capabilities, as organisations will continue to pivot rapidly. Upskill in areas like project management or data science to remain competitive. Your career longevity now depends on your capacity to learn continuously and apply new tools effectively to solve emerging business challenges.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Project Management, Data Science, Digital Marketing and Business And Management — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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