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2025 in trends According to Carolina experts

What big-picture issues and topics should we be monitoring this year? Fifteen Carolina faculty members tapped into their areas of expertise and shared insights on what they’re paying attention to in 2025.

Keep reading to learn what to expect on topics from artificial intelligence and climate change to affordable housing and supply chains.

A graphic illustrating computer science and data science research

AI

AI is already dominating media conversations and will continue to do so this year as its rapid advancements transform industries, redefine work and spark ethical debates about its impact on society. From groundbreaking innovations to concerns over bias and regulation, AI will be at the center of a global dialogue about the balance between progress and responsibility.

Top view of international port with Crane loading containers in import export business logistics.

Geopolitical risks affecting the supply chain/tariffs

Geopolitical risks — arising from factors like tariffs, sanctions and armed conflicts — are threatening global supply chains and will demand managerial attention in 2025. My research examines the unique nature of these risks and their impact on supply chains and highlights the need to alter traditional supply chain strategies in response to geopolitical threats.

Person working at desk with spreadsheet and calculator.

Tax policy

The 2017 tax bill passed by President Donald Trump and Republicans expires this year, necessitating action to prevent tax increases for individuals and corporations. Expect significant discussions on tax policy as both parties work on revising the tax code.

Finance and business graphic with stock market report, financial graph and rows of coins.

Economic stability — navigating policy, productivity and technology

As the global economy faces unprecedented challenges, understanding how government policies, Federal Reserve actions and technological advancements influence growth and inflation is crucial. Key areas of expertise include:

  • Policy impact: fiscal and monetary policies drive growth and manage inflation
  • The Fed’s role: balancing inflation control with economic support
  • Productivity: efficiency boosts economic output and wages
  • Local economies: regional differences in resilience
  • Tech and skills: adapting to automation and new job opportunities
Close up of male hands drawing creative business sketch in spiral notepad.

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship will dominate the media in 2025 as a wave of innovation emerges from economic shifts, AI advancements and the demand for solutions to global challenges. With younger generations prioritizing autonomy and purpose, and industries rapidly evolving, entrepreneurs will become the driving force behind groundbreaking ideas that capture public attention and redefine the future. We at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship want to make sure that our students are prepared to meet those challenges and beyond.

Aerial view of a neighborhood of family homes.

Affordable housing

Affordable housing will be a major media focus this year as rising living costs, urban population growth, constrained supply, burdensome regulation and the impact of economic inequality intensify the housing crisis. The importance of affordable housing will push policymakers, developers and communities to prioritize innovative approaches, recognizing housing affordability as a core contributor to economic vitality in our state.

Rows of houses.

Housing will remain unaffordable for many North Carolinians in 2025; home sales and new construction will likely continue to be sluggish, with mortgage rates not expected to fall below 6%. The future of local and state initiatives that rely on federal programs, like Community Development Block Grant, Home Investment Partnerships Program and the National Housing Trust Fund, is uncertain as the new administration promises a shift in policy.

High-angle view of unrecognizable woman applying for visa in embassy office giving passport and application form to consular officer.

Citizenship and deportation

Mass deportation is being planned for 2025, and its execution will likely require the assistance of state and local officials. How will immigration enforcement affect local communities? What pressures will local officials face to participate in mass deportation? These and other questions concerning the federal government, states and cities will likely be central to understanding the incoming Trump administration’s policies on immigration.

Women choosing products in a supermarket.

Food policy and regulation

Ultra-processed foods have been a growing staple component of Americans’ diets. The food system is shaped by policies and regulations (or lack thereof), including agricultural subsidies, warning labels, dietary guidelines, school foods rules and more. There is unprecedented bipartisan attention at the federal level to the issue of food and chronic disease. It will be a year to watch if food policies change and how it impacts what gets on our plates.

Doctor signing papers. Stethoscope displayed atop papers.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again plan challenges longstanding recommendations provided to parents to ensure the healthy development of their children, such as vaccination and drinking fluoridated water and pasteurized milk. News media routinely cover public health matters, so 2025 will bring the chance to witness whether and how scientific evidence factors into journalistic discussions of health policy. In addition, social media has long served as a gathering site for families who reject conventional public health recommendations, so it will be a year to watch for rapid growth in these communities online.

Rain falling on an umbrella.

Climate change and risk management

In 2024, we saw devastating impacts to our neighbors in western North Carolina from Hurricane Helene. Recovering and rebuilding will be a major process that will take years to complete. It seems increasingly likely that we’ll continue to live in a world experiencing a rise in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, extreme heat, droughts and fires. A host of stakeholders from homeowners and local governments to insurance firms and lenders will all be increasingly exposed to the resulting financial losses, leading to rapid and continuing growth in the field of risk management in 2025 and beyond.

Adult and child hands holding red heart on aqua background.

Mental health

Mental health will continue to be a top issue faced by Americans. Between loneliness, burnout, social media and a contentious sociopolitical environment, there are many pressures on our society’s collective mental health, which require us to make this a priority and ensure there is rapid access to care.

Water being poured into a glass.

Safe drinking water

More North Carolinians are dependent on private well water than residents of any other state. While well water can be a low-risk option when wells are appropriately tested and maintained, the combination of a lack of regulation and the existence of inequities in access to well testing and treatment can lead to contaminants in drinking water. Well water will continue to be an important topic for North Carolina communities in 2025.

Thermometer atop a background of an orange sky with bright sun.

Extreme heat

Extreme heat dominated the news cycles the last two summers, and that trend will likely continue as we grapple with climate change, extreme weather, the inequities extreme heat perpetuates and creates and how we can create climate resiliency in sustainable ways.

Hands of a person typing on a laptop with books nearby.

Online learning

Rising interest in online graduate education in 2025 is driven by its accessibility, flexibility and alignment with evolving workforce needs. Working professionals are drawn to online programs that allow them to balance education with career and personal commitments while avoiding relocation. Advances in technology, the normalization of online learning post-pandemic and increasing employer acceptance of online degrees are boosting demand. As institutions expand offerings to stay competitive, online education will attract a broader, more diverse student base.