Upwork Human+Agent Productivity Index Reveals Up to 70% Boost in Work Completion from Human and AI Agent Collaboration vs. Agents Working Alone

Rhea-AI Summary

Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK) released initial findings from its Human+Agent Productivity Index (HAPI) on Nov. 13, 2025, measuring humans-in-the-loop (HITL) across >300 real client projects.

HAPI found that human and AI agent collaboration increased project completion rates by up to 70% versus agents alone, and noted the study focused on simple, well-defined jobs that represent less than 6% of Upwork's gross services volume (GSV). Upwork will present full HAPI results at a NeurIPS workshop and published methodology at its HAPI webpage.

Positive

• Completion rates +70% with human+agent collaboration
• 300+ real client projects analyzed for HAPI

Negative

• Simple jobs studied represent less than 6% of GSV
• AI agents struggle to complete simple real-world projects alone

News Market Reaction

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+0.06% News Effect

On the day this news was published, UPWK gained 0.06%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

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New index measures impact of human-in-the-loop (HITL) collaboration, showing where humans and agents can work together to do better work faster

PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Upwork Inc. (Nasdaq: UPWK), the world’s human and AI-powered work marketplace, today announced initial findings from its new Human+Agent Productivity Index (HAPI), the industry’s first data-driven evaluation of how human expertise amplifies AI agent performance in real knowledge work.

HAPI measures the value of humans-in-the-loop (HITL) across more than 300 real client projects completed on Upwork, intentionally selected for being simple, well-defined, low-complexity projects where AI agents have a reasonable chance of success. These types of simple jobs represent less than 6% of Upwork’s total gross services volume (GSV) and a fraction of freelance and contingent work more broadly. The research found that human and agent collaboration increased project completion rates by up to 70% compared to agents operating alone.

Unlike other AI agent evaluations that rely on fixed or synthetic datasets, HAPI is built on actual client projects from Upwork. And while AI agents are typically tested in isolation or narrow simulations, HAPI studies how collaboration and creativity from human professionals elevate agent outcomes in real-world contexts.

“In our Human+Agent Productivity Index, agents struggle to complete simple real-world projects on their own,” said Andrew Rabinovich, chief technology officer and head of AI & machine learning at Upwork. “However, when paired with expert human professionals, project completion rates improve dramatically, supporting our firm belief that the future of work will be defined by humans and AI collaborating to get more work done, with human intuition and domain expertise playing a critical role.”

Upwork will present full HAPI results at a NeurIPS workshop this year. For more on the Human+Agent Productivity Index and its methodology: https://www.upwork.com/human-agent-productivity-index.

About Upwork Inc.
Upwork Inc.’s (Nasdaq: UPWK) family of companies connects businesses with global, AI-enabled talent across every contingent work type including freelance, fractional, and payrolled. This portfolio includes the Upwork Marketplace, which connects businesses with on-demand access to highly skilled talent across the globe, and Lifted, which provides a purpose-built solution for enterprise organizations to source, contract, manage, and pay talent across the full spectrum of contingent work. From Fortune 100 enterprises to entrepreneurs, businesses rely on Upwork Inc. to find and hire expert talent, leverage AI-powered work solutions, and drive business transformation. With access to professionals spanning more than 10,000 skills across AI & machine learning, software development, sales & marketing, customer support, finance & accounting, and more, the Upwork family of companies enables businesses of all sizes to scale, innovate, and transform their workforces for the age of AI and beyond.

Since its founding, Upwork Inc. has facilitated more than $30 billion in total transactions and services as it fulfills its purpose to create opportunity in every era of work. Learn more about the Upwork Marketplace at upwork.com and follow on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X; learn more about Lifted at go-lifted.com and follow on LinkedIn.

Contact
Zach Moses
press@upwork.com

FAQ

What did Upwork (UPWK) announce on Nov. 13, 2025 about HAPI?

Upwork announced initial HAPI findings showing human+agent collaboration raised completion rates up to 70% across >300 real projects.

How large was the HAPI dataset Upwork used for the Nov. 13, 2025 release?

HAPI analyzed more than 300 actual client projects selected for being simple, well-defined, low-complexity jobs.

What portion of Upwork's business did the HAPI simple jobs represent in the Nov. 13, 2025 report?

The study focused on simple jobs that represent less than 6% of Upwork's GSV.

What was the headline performance result in Upwork's HAPI announcement (UPWK)?

The headline: project completion rates improved by up to 70% when humans collaborated with AI agents versus agents alone.

Will Upwork present full HAPI results publicly and when?

Upwork said it will present full HAPI results at a NeurIPS workshop later in 2025.

Where can investors read HAPI methodology and details for UPWK's Nov. 13, 2025 release?

Upwork published methodology and details on its HAPI webpage at https://www.upwork.com/human-agent-productivity-index.