In listening to Blackrock Jay Jacobs Head of ETF he mentioned the investment themes Blackrock has identified in the context of re-industrialisation of the economy.

See below for detail, but the core three are:

Mega Force	Description & Investment Implications
Demographic Divergence	Aging populations in developed economies are expected to constrain growth and productivity, while emerging markets with younger populations and expanding middle classes may benefit from higher growth potential[3][5].
Digital Disruption & AI	The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and digital technologies is transforming productivity, business models, and entire industries. BlackRock sees AI as a foundational driver of future corporate performance and economic change[3][5].
Geopolitical Fragmentation	Increasing geopolitical tensions and a shift from globalization to national resilience are leading to the rewiring of global supply chains and a focus on economic security over efficiency[3][5].

My focus is on AI however the mega forces identified by Blackrock make it clear that several forces are at play and the interplay must be considered in any work strategy. For example I am working on a business roadmap for AI to 2025, however the workforce in 2050 will largely consist of a completely new generation in 2050. The folks worried today about their jobs will be retired.

And Geopolitical Fragmentation is increasingly reflected in every country for themselves. Economies willl be largely more expensive so the importance of productivity is critical and AI will be at the centre of doing exponentially more with less, and with greater efficiency.

Courtesy of of Perplexity here are the Blackrock investment themes.

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Blackrock investment themes

BlackRock’s current investment themes center on five structural “mega forces” that are reshaping the global economy and investment landscape. These themes reflect BlackRock’s forward-looking approach to capturing long-term opportunities and managing risks arising from profound economic, technological, and demographic shifts. Below is a detailed overview:

Mega Force	Description & Investment Implications
Demographic Divergence	Aging populations in developed economies are expected to constrain growth and productivity, while emerging markets with younger populations and expanding middle classes may benefit from higher growth potential[3][5].
Digital Disruption & AI	The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and digital technologies is transforming productivity, business models, and entire industries. BlackRock sees AI as a foundational driver of future corporate performance and economic change[3][5].
Geopolitical Fragmentation	Increasing geopolitical tensions and a shift from globalization to national resilience are leading to the rewiring of global supply chains and a focus on economic security over efficiency[3][5].
Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy	The global move toward sustainability and decarbonization is spurring a massive reallocation of capital, particularly in energy and infrastructure, and creating new investment opportunities and risks[3][5].
Future of Finance	Financial innovation, including digital assets, fintech, and evolving payment systems, is rapidly changing how individuals and institutions manage, borrow, and invest money[3][5].

Additional Thematic Insights

• Macroeconomic Volatility & Inflation: BlackRock emphasizes the importance of navigating persistent inflation and monetary policy shifts, advocating for quality assets and a nuanced approach to fixed income, including favoring short-term U.S. Treasuries and selective long-term bonds in Europe and the UK[7].
• Market Volatility & Opportunities: The firm highlights the need to identify new market opportunities amid increased volatility, with a focus on structural mega forces such as digital disruption and the low-carbon transition[7].
• Regional Nuances: BlackRock notes the unique investment opportunities in markets like Japan, where stable bond yields and corporate reforms are present[7].

Implementation via Thematic ETFs

BlackRock offers a suite of iShares thematic ETFs designed to provide exposure to these mega forces, allowing investors to align portfolios with long-term transformations in the global economy[4].

Summary Table

Theme	Key Drivers	Example Opportunities
Demographic Divergence	Aging vs. youth booms	Healthcare, EM consumer growth
Digital Disruption & AI	Automation, data, AI adoption	Tech infrastructure, AI applications
Geopolitical Fragmentation	Supply chain resilience, national security	Industrials, reshoring, defense
Low-Carbon Transition	Decarbonization, energy transition	Clean energy, infrastructure
Future of Finance	Fintech, digital assets, new payment systems	Digital banks, blockchain

These investment themes are dynamic and are regularly updated to reflect evolving global trends and macroeconomic conditions[2][4][9].

Sources

[1] BlackRock, Inc. Stock Price: Quote, Forecast, Splits & News (BLK) https://www.perplexity.ai/finance/BLK

[2] Thematic Investing: Tomorrow’s themes, today | BlackRock https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual/insights/thematic-investing

[3] Discover Thematic investing with BlackRock https://www.blackrock.com/uk/solutions/thematic-investing

[4] Invest in innovation with thematic ETFs https://www.ishares.com/us/strategies/thematic-investing

[5] Thematic in focus | Thematic | iShares – BlackRock https://www.ishares.com/uk/professional/en/themes/thematic-investing

[6] BlackRock Revisits Its 3 Mid-Year Investment Themes … https://www.businessinsider.com/stocks-equities-biggest-investment-themes-2022-favorite-markets-sectors-blackrock-2021-12

[7] BlackRock’s Key Investment Themes: Presentation Design … https://www.slidegenius.com/cm-faq-question/what-are-blackrocks-insights-on-presentation-design-communicating-key-investment-themes

[8] Blackrock Future U.S. Themes ETF https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1761055/000119312521280709/d164537d485apos.htm

[9] BlackRock – X https://x.com/BlackRock/status/1864404554193719578

[10] Analyzing BlackRock’s Favorite Investment Themes (2024) https://open.spotify.com/episode/3eq4F1HvGpHzEGCywA5boy