Tech, venture capital, and the future workforce: The global Monopoly Board

Welcome to the monopoly board. You’re already in the game. Waking up, sipping your coffee, and scrolling through news on your phone. The information you see, the products you buy, the money you spend, and the policies that govern your life are shaped by an interconnected global power structure. You don’t see the dice roll, but the rules were written without you. And that includes the workforce.

Author: Elliot Dell, CEO of Salt

Who gets hired, how jobs are created, and which skills are valued are not just determined by individual effort – they’re dictated by global economic forces, corporate interests, and technological shifts. The rise of AI, automation, and corporate consolidation is reshaping industries, making some skills obsolete while elevating others. Hiring isn’t just about qualifications anymore; it’s about how companies use data, automation, and centralised decision-making to filter talent and control access to opportunity.

The Global Monopoly Board: Who are the major players influencing global economies?

• Financial investment giants
  Firms like BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street influence major corporations, central bank policies, and global economic decisions.
• Global superpowers
  Nations like the USA, China, and the EU bloc, wield influence through military strength, control of financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank, and dominance in global trade, diplomacy, and economic sanctions.
• Religious institutions
  The Vatican, Saudi Arabia, and evangelical networks influence global policy while holding vast financial assets.
• Media giants
  A handful of corporations control most of Western media, shaping public discourse and entertainment narratives that shape society’s collective perception.
• Big tech
  Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta control information flow, online speech, and data privacy while expanding AI-driven surveillance.

Other influences playing the board:

• Energy & resource giants
  Oil-rich nations like Saudi Araba, Russia, and corporate giants like ExxonMobil and Shell shape global energy markets, impacting economies, geopolitics, and climate policies.
• Multilateral organisations
  Groups like the United Nations (UN), World Economic Forum (WEF), World Health Organization (WHO), and International Monetary Fund (IMF) set global agendas on trade, health, environment, and governance.
• Philanthropic powerhouses
  Billionaire-backed foundations shape global health, education, and governance initiatives, often influencing policy at the highest levels.

How do financial giants and economic policies impact workforce trends?

These forces reinforce each other. Big Tech relies on financial giants for funding. Governments leverage media empires to maintain control. Financial institutions influence political policies. Religious entities shape cultural and social norms. All of them, in turn, shape the job market as does the influence of the Venture Capitalists.

How does Venture Capital’s influence workforce demand?

Venture Capitalists (VCs) play a critical role in shaping the workforce of tomorrow. By funding innovative startups, VCs directly influence which industries grow, which job categories emerge, and which roles are displaced. VC-backed companies are often at the forefront of mass job creation in emerging industries, but they can also lead to the obsolescence of existing roles as automation and technology disrupt traditional sectors.

“According to the Crunchbase 2023 State of Venture report, VC investments are concentrated in industries reshaping the workforce, with tech leading at 55% of global VC funding.”

Data shows that VC-backed companies are responsible for a significant portion of job creation. However, this rapid growth is accompanied by an ever-changing workforce landscape. For example, while VC funding fuels demand for tech roles in artificial intelligence, software engineering, and cybersecurity, it concurrently reduces the need for jobs in traditional manufacturing and customer service sectors.

VC-backed companies are not only shaping industries but also defining the future talent pool by prioritising skills in AI, machine learning, and cloud computing.

As VCs continue to pump capital into innovative sectors, the demand for specific skill sets evolves. Industries like fintech, healthtech, and green energy are increasingly attracting VC investment, driving a shift in the types of jobs that are being created. Companies in these sectors require talent that is specialized in emerging technologies, reshaping the overall workforce composition.

The rise of tech giants and the AI revolution

Having worked in technology recruitment for over 20 years, I’ve witnessed firsthand how technology has reshaped economies, industries, and human interactions. The digital revolution has led to tech giants controlling not just data, but reality itself.

The rise of Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Meta has concentrated unprecedented power in the hands of a few. These platforms don’t merely offer services; they own the infrastructure of communication, commerce, and knowledge. They shape how we think, interact, and conduct business. Now, with the explosion of Artificial Intelligence (AI), we are witnessing the next phase of power consolidation—one where decision-making itself is controlled by machines, built and trained by an elite few.

AI is no longer just about automation:

Who controls information?

AI-driven algorithms already determine what people see online, from search results to social media feeds, shaping public discourse.

How will automation reshape economies?

AI is redefining industries, shifting economic power toward companies that own and deploy these systems effectively.

What narratives are allowed to exist?

AI influences content creation, moderation, and censorship, determining which voices are amplified or silenced.

How is human labour valued – or replaced?

AI-driven automation is rapidly displacing jobs, forcing a re-evaluation of work, wages, and employment structures.

As AI advances, a new form of governance is emerging. One dictated not by politicians, but by algorithms. The challenge? These systems are built and controlled by a handful of corporate entities, operating in close partnership with governments and financial elites.

Tech giants are no longer just corporations; they are the gatekeepers of information, commerce, and governance, shaping modern society in ways previously unimaginable. These companies don’t just influence the system – they are the system. The question remains: who holds them accountable?

Living on the board: How Venture Capital and the workforce intersect

The global monopoly isn’t just about power at the top; it has an impact on your daily reality, especially in how work is shaped. Venture capital (VC) plays a significant role in this, as it directs investments toward emerging sectors and disrupts traditional industries, leading to massive shifts in the workforce.

VC investments in technology are driving the changes in traditional roles while simultaneously creating demand for new ones. In this environment, skills in AI, machine learning, and cloud computing are becoming essential, with VC-backed companies shaping the future talent pool by prioritising these areas.

Understanding this structure is crucial. Both VC-driven corporations and decentralised movements shape the future of work. Whether it’s AI-driven control or new models of freelancing and gig economies, the workforce is becoming increasingly segmented and specialised. The question isn’t just about who holds the power but about how businesses and workers adapt to and navigate these changes in an evolving market.