PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Upwork Inc. (Nasdaq: UPWK), the world’s human and AI-powered work marketplace, today announced that it will report its financial results for the third quarter of 2025 on Monday, November 3, 2025 after market close. The company will host a Q&A conference call to discuss these results at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on the same day. A live webcast of the call will be available on the Upwork Investor Relations website at investors.upwork.c ...

Core Insights - 58% of businesses will prioritize AI proficiency and understanding when hiring freelancers in the next three months [1] - The freelance economy generates an estimated $1.5 trillion in annual earnings, highlighting its significance in the U.S. labor market [1][11] - Companies are increasingly hiring for uniquely human skills to ensure AI investments yield quality outcomes and business value [2][9] Hiring Trends - Demand for translation and localization services grew by 29% as businesses seek human oversight to address AI "workslop" [3][6] - Digital marketing contracts increased by 9% as companies adapt their strategies in the age of AI and generative search [4][6] - Project management roles among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) surged by 102% as firms prepare for annual planning [5][6] Skills Demand - The top 10 most in-demand AI-related skills include virtual assistance, content writing, and video editing, indicating a shift towards leveraging AI to enhance human roles rather than replace them [9][15] - Quality assurance testing grew by 9%, reflecting the need for human involvement in validating AI outputs [6] - 39% of businesses cite a lack of trust in AI's accuracy as a barrier to implementing AI solutions [6] Future Outlook - 53% of businesses anticipate hiring freelance digital marketers in the next three months, indicating a strong demand for marketing expertise [6] - 35% of businesses expect to hire freelance project managers, further emphasizing the growing importance of project management in an AI-enabled economy [6][7]

Group 1 - Upwork Inc. (NASDAQ:UPWK) is recognized for its low P/E ratios and has received a price target increase from $20 to $27 by Citizens JMP, maintaining a Market Outperform rating [1] - The new enterprise platform, Lifted, is expected to significantly enhance Upwork's enterprise offerings over the coming years by integrating essential capabilities in-house [1] - Lifted, formed through the acquisitions of Bubty and Ascen, is viewed as a multi-year growth catalyst that can increase Gross Services Value (GSV) regardless of macroeconomic changes [2] Group 2 - Factors driving GSV and revenue growth for Upwork include the introduction of a new variable freelancer fee, rising demand for AI-related work, development of AI-driven marketplaces, and improvements in advertising and monetization tools [3] - Upwork operates a global freelancing platform that connects businesses with individuals and agencies, positioning itself within the communication services sector [3]

Core Insights - Upwork Inc. will host an Investor Day on November 18, 2025, featuring presentations and a Q&A session with management [1] - The event will be accessible via live webcast, with a replay available afterward, and in-person attendance is by invitation only due to capacity limitations [2] Company Overview - Upwork Inc. connects businesses with global, AI-enabled talent across various contingent work types, including freelance and payrolled services [3] - The Upwork Marketplace provides on-demand access to skilled talent, while Lifted offers solutions for enterprise organizations to manage talent sourcing and payments [3] - The company has facilitated over $30 billion in total transactions since its founding, aiming to create opportunities in every work era [4]

Core Insights - Upwork Inc. has launched Lifted, a subsidiary designed to provide a comprehensive solution for enterprises to source, contract, manage, and pay global contingent talent in a compliant manner [1][2] - Lifted aims to eliminate the trade-offs traditionally faced by businesses between flexibility and compliance, speed and scale, or digital ease and enterprise rigor [2] - The platform is built to address the complexities of modern workforce models, offering a tech-enabled solution that integrates with existing systems and supports various contingent workforce models [2][3] Company Overview - Upwork Inc. connects companies with global, AI-enabled talent across all contingent work models through its marketplace and Lifted subsidiary [4] - The Upwork Marketplace has facilitated over $25 billion in economic opportunities for talent worldwide, showcasing its significant impact on the labor market [6] Lifted's Features - Lifted provides a contract- and country-agnostic platform that unifies the management of independent contractors, agents of record, employers of record, staff augmentation, and statement of work engagements [2][3] - The platform is supported by acquisitions of Bubty and Ascen, enhancing its capabilities in workforce management and compliance [3] - Lifted enables enterprises to access a talent pool of over 250,000 AI experts, allowing for efficient management of extended workforces [3][8] Market Position - More than 25,000 hiring managers currently utilize Lifted for their contingent workforce needs, with over 500 new projects initiated weekly [8] - Lifted supports a wide range of contract types and work engagements, making it suitable for enterprise-grade workflows [8]