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2025’s Most In-Demand Skills

San Francisco, CA – Upwork Inc. (NASDAQ: UPWK), a leading global platform connecting businesses with independent talent, today released its 2025 In-Demand Skills report, revealing a dynamic shift in the workforce. The report highlights a surge in demand for advanced AI capabilities alongside a growing need for human-centric expertise, reflecting the evolving priorities of businesses navigating technological disruption and a changing global landscape. AI Skills in High Demand: The report underscores a significant increase in demand for AI specializations, particularly generative AI modeling and AI data annotation, with year-over-year growth rates exceeding 220% in some cases. These highly specialized roles command premium pay, with freelancers possessing these skills earning up to 22% more per hour compared to traditional roles within the same field.  "The earning premiums for advanced AI skills reflect the significant value businesses place on this technology," said Teng Liu, Economist at Upwork. "This highlights the scarcity of these specialized skills and their critical role in driving business productivity and competitive advantage." Human-Centric Skills Gaining Traction: Beyond AI, the report highlights a notable increase in demand for career coaching, training & development, and other human-centric roles, with growth exceeding 74% year-over-year. This trend indicates a growing emphasis on employee adaptability and guidance as businesses navigate the complexities of rapid technological change. "This report illustrates a dual narrative in workforce priorities," said Kelly Monahan, Managing Director of the Upwork Research Institute. "While demand for technical expertise in areas like AI is explosive, businesses are simultaneously investing in human development to ensure their teams can effectively leverage these technologies. The future of work is not solely about technology; it's about empowering people to utilize it effectively." The Rise of Freelancing: The report further emphasizes the increasing reliance on freelancers to address skill gaps. Nearly half of all businesses (49%) are turning to freelancers to fill critical skill gaps, and 48% of CEOs plan to increase their reliance on freelance talent in the coming year. This shift reflects a growing preference for expertise and adaptability over traditional hiring methods. Furthermore, the report highlights a de-emphasis on traditional educational credentials. 74% of executives view degrees as less relevant when hiring freelancers, prioritizing demonstrated expertise and proven results. Upwork data supports this trend, with 78% of CEOs believing top freelancers contribute more value than degree-holding employees. Top Skills for 2025: Upwork's report categorizes the fastest-growing skills into key work areas:  Accounting & Consulting: Personal coaching, career coaching, training & development Coding & Web Development: Scripting & automation, web design, UX/UI design Customer Service & Admin Support: Supply chain project management, construction project management, qualitative research Data Science & Analytics: Generative AI modeling, AI data annotation, knowledge representation Design & Creative: Pattern design, video production, product design Sales & Marketing: Display advertising, campaign management, email marketing The full report also identifies the top 10 most in-demand skills by category, including graphic design, full-stack development, data analytics, and social media marketing. Conclusion: "As organizations embrace advanced technologies, they must cultivate the skills and resilience necessary for their teams to thrive in this era of rapid transformation," added Monahan. "Leveraging highly specialized freelancers can significantly contribute to driving adaptability and innovation within organizations. For professionals, focusing on niche specializations or combining technical skills with human-centric expertise is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge." Methodology: The data for this report was sourced from Upwork's proprietary database, analyzing freelancer earnings and job postings in the U.S. between January 1, 2024, and October 31, 2024. Skills with at least $100,000 in aggregate freelancer earnings during this period were included in the analysis, with growth calculated year-over-year.

Posted on 1/23/25, 12:00:00 AM.000

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