Core Insights - Las Vegas and Nashville have emerged as the highest-paying cities for freelancers in the U.S., with average earnings of $62,083 and $61,569 respectively, according to Fiverr's Freelance Economic Impact Report [4][5] - The report indicates a significant increase in the number of independent professionals across the top 30 U.S. markets, with a 4.3% annual growth rate, totaling approximately 6.9 million independent professionals [5][6] - Freelancing is reshaping the American workforce, allowing individuals to build flexible careers independent of traditional employment structures [6] Market Growth and Earnings - The fastest-growing markets for freelancers include Orlando and Miami (both at 32%), Nashville (24%), and Las Vegas (22%) [3] - Revenue growth was most pronounced in Miami (71%) and Orlando (62%), while New York, Los Angeles, and Miami had the highest overall number of freelancers [3] - The average earnings for independent professionals in the top 30 markets is $52,002, which is approximately $5,748 higher than the overall U.S. average [14] Economic Contribution - Independent professionals in the U.S. are estimated to generate $319 billion in revenue, contributing 1.1% to the U.S. GDP, with $208 billion generated in the top 30 markets [5] - Professional service freelancers (51% of independent workers) and technical service freelancers (26%) make significant contributions to both the workforce and revenue [14] Demographic Insights - The report categorizes cities into nine groups based on freelance economies, growth rates, and demographics, highlighting trends in younger and more diverse populations in certain markets [14] - There is a notable earnings gap, with a 60% difference between the highest average earnings market (Las Vegas) and the lowest (Minneapolis) [14]

NEW YORK, Dec. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Economic shifts are remaking where and how Americans work, as the estimated population of independent professionals increased in every one of the United States’ top 30 markets last year, with cities like Las Vegas and Nashville offering freelancers the highest average earnings, according to a new report released by Fiverr International Ltd. (NYSE: FVRR) today. Analyzing data from millions of tax returns and Non-Employer Statistics compiled by the U.S. Census Burea ...

Group 1: AI Training and Workforce Insights - 71% of workers have not received AI training in the past year, despite 63% acknowledging the importance of developing such skills [1] - Only 27% of surveyed workers are using AI at work, compared to 87% of executives and 57% of managers [1] Group 2: Freelance Platforms and AI Talent - Companies like Upwork and Fiverr have faced challenges due to generative AI disrupting simple contract jobs, yet Upwork is gaining business from larger enterprise clients [2] - 63% of executives feel they lack adequate in-house talent, leading to a 50% increase in searches for skills like prompt engineering on Upwork [2] - There are 250,000 AI experts on Upwork, with 80,000 located in the U.S., and companies are seeking AI generalists who possess creativity and problem-solving skills [2] Group 3: Gig Economy and Future of Work - The unemployment rate for Gen Z is over double the national rate, making freelance work a necessity for many [3] - Younger generations prefer flexibility and a portfolio approach to work, allowing for multiple income streams [3] - Leaders who view AI as a strategic advantage in building a flexible workforce are likely to succeed, as there will still be ample work for humans alongside AI advancements [3]

Core Viewpoint - Fiverr International (FVRR) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive trend in earnings estimates which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Ratings - The Zacks rating system is based solely on a company's changing earnings picture, tracking the Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS from sell-side analysts [2]. - The Zacks rating upgrade for Fiverr reflects an improved earnings outlook, which is expected to positively impact its stock price [3][5]. Impact of Earnings Estimate Revisions - There is a strong correlation between changes in earnings estimates and near-term stock price movements, making the Zacks rating system valuable for investors [4][6]. - Fiverr's rising earnings estimates, with a 9.2% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months, indicate an improvement in the company's underlying business [8]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a strong historical performance, particularly for Zacks Rank 1 stocks which have generated an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - Fiverr's upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].

Core Insights - Fiverr has launched a new brand campaign promoting "vibe coding," which allows individuals without coding experience to create websites and apps with the help of expert freelancers [2][3][5] - The campaign emphasizes the importance of human expertise in transforming ideas into functional products, highlighting that while AI can assist in the process, it cannot replace skilled developers [6][5] Group 1: Vibe Coding Services - Fiverr's vibe coding services enable solopreneurs, small business owners, and startup founders to turn their ideas into monetized products with support from freelancers [2][5] - Services include deployment support, bug fixing, backend integration, design improvements, and API integration, ensuring projects are production-ready [2][5] Group 2: Campaign Messaging - The campaign features a humorous narrative using a singing avocado to illustrate the pitfalls of relying solely on AI for app development, showcasing the need for human intervention [3][4] - The ad serves as a metaphor for the gap between appearance and reality in vibe-coded apps, which may seem ready but often face technical challenges [4][5] Group 3: Company Background - Fiverr aims to transform the way the world creates and collaborates, connecting top talent with businesses globally [7] - The platform offers a wide range of services across various industries, including software development, digital marketing, and business consulting, catering to both small businesses and Fortune 500 companies [8]

Core Insights - The Fiverr Spring 2025 Business Trends Index highlights a significant increase in demand for AI-related freelance services, with searches for specialized expertise surging by 18,347% over the past six months [1][2][3] - There is a growing paradox where businesses are not only adopting AI agents but are also seeking to humanize AI interactions, evidenced by a 641% increase in searches for freelancers who can enhance AI-generated content [5][6] Group 1: AI Adoption and Freelance Demand - Businesses are increasingly outsourcing to specialists for the implementation of AI systems, driven by technological advancements that allow AI to perform tasks independently [2][3] - The market for AI agents is projected to reach $1 trillion, yet many companies face challenges in implementation, leading to a rise in freelance hiring [3][4] - Nearly 30% of Fiverr orders are now for AI agent development, with a shift from simple chatbots to more complex multi-agent systems [4] Group 2: Humanizing AI and Content Creation - There is a notable knowledge gap among businesses regarding AI agents, prompting a surge in demand for freelancers who can help bridge this gap [5] - The demand for freelancers to "humanize AI content" has increased significantly, with businesses seeking to rewrite AI-generated materials to make them sound more natural [5][6] - Freelancers are also being sought for expertise in automation and digital marketing, with notable increases in searches for tools like Go High Level (+1,489%) and Make.com (+1,083%) [6]

Core Insights - Small businesses face significant marketing challenges, particularly in brand awareness and customer retention, yet 70% spend less than five hours weekly addressing these issues [1][2] - The survey highlights three critical digital marketing priorities: building brand awareness (42%), creating engaging content (40%), and retaining customers (33%) [2] - There is a growing reliance on freelancers and AI tools among small business owners to manage marketing efforts due to limited time and resources [3] Digital Marketing Trends - Nearly half (46%) of small business owners utilize freelance services for their primary business, while 48% use them for side hustles [3] - Freelancers are primarily engaged for visual brand elements (45%) and strategic marketing services (28%), which are essential for establishing a business's marketing presence [3] - Small businesses plan to prioritize digital marketing investments through 2025, with 49% focusing on digital marketing and social media, 39% on branding, and 34% on content creation [8] AI Adoption - A significant majority (77%) of small business owners are currently using generative AI for various business needs, with only 17% not planning to incorporate AI tools within the next year [8]

Core Viewpoint - Small-cap companies, defined as those with market capitalizations between $250 million and $2 billion, are increasingly engaging in share buybacks, which can significantly impact their earnings per share and share prices, despite the smaller scale compared to large-cap companies [1][2]. Group 1: Buyback Announcements - Fresh Del Monte Produce announced a share buyback authorization of $150 million, representing over 11% of its $1.42 billion market capitalization, with no set end date for the program [4][5]. - Axcelis Technologies revealed a buyback authorization of $100 million, bringing its total buyback capacity to $215 million, which is 12% of its $1.8 billion market cap [6][8]. - Fiverr International announced a second $100 million buyback program, equal to just under 11% of its $922 million market capitalization, following the full utilization of its first buyback authorization in 2024 [9][10]. Group 2: Company Performance and Financials - Fresh Del Monte's revenue is heavily driven by bananas, which accounted for 34% of total revenue in 2024, and the company has averaged $48 million in annual share repurchases over the past decade [4][5]. - Axcelis Technologies experienced a 10% revenue drop in 2024, but had previously seen revenue growth of over 23% from 2021 to 2023, with 41% of its revenue in 2024 coming from silicon carbide-based wafers [7][8]. - Fiverr International has seen a 365% increase in revenue since its IPO in 2019, although its annual revenue growth rate has significantly decreased from 77% during the COVID peak to just 8% in 2024 [10].