Upwork Study Finds 1 in 4 U.S. Skilled Knowledge Workers Now Work Independently, Generating $1.5 Trillion in Earnings
Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK) has released its inaugural Future Workforce Index, revealing that 28% of U.S. knowledge workers now work independently, generating $1.5 trillion in earnings in 2024. The study shows freelancers are outperforming traditional employees in several key areas:
- Median income of $85,000 for full-time freelancers vs $80,000 for traditional employees
- 54% of freelancers report advanced AI proficiency vs 38% of full-time employees
- AI-related work on Upwork grew 60% year-over-year in 2024
The platform now hosts over 12,000 AI specialists in the U.S. The study also found that high-growth companies are more likely to utilize freelancers (45%), managed services (50%), and human+AI collaboration (41%). Notably, 37% of freelancers hold postgraduate degrees compared to 20% of full-time employees, indicating a trend toward more sophisticated independent careers.
Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK) ha pubblicato il suo primo Future Workforce Index, rivelando che il 28% dei lavoratori della conoscenza negli Stati Uniti lavora ora in modo indipendente, generando 1,5 trilioni di dollari di guadagni nel 2024. Lo studio mostra che i freelance superano i dipendenti tradizionali in diversi ambiti chiave:
- Reddito mediano di 85.000 dollari per i freelance a tempo pieno contro 80.000 dollari per i dipendenti tradizionali
- Il 54% dei freelance dichiara una competenza avanzata in AI contro il 38% dei dipendenti a tempo pieno
- Il lavoro legato all’AI su Upwork è cresciuto del 60% anno su anno nel 2024
La piattaforma ospita ora oltre 12.000 specialisti AI negli Stati Uniti. Lo studio ha inoltre evidenziato che le aziende in forte crescita tendono maggiormente a utilizzare freelance (45%), servizi gestiti (50%) e collaborazioni uomo+AI (41%). Da notare che il 37% dei freelance possiede titoli post-laurea rispetto al 20% dei dipendenti a tempo pieno, indicando una tendenza verso carriere indipendenti più qualificate.
Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK) ha publicado su primer Future Workforce Index, revelando que el 28% de los trabajadores del conocimiento en EE.UU. ahora trabajan de forma independiente, generando 1,5 billones de dólares en ingresos en 2024. El estudio muestra que los freelancers superan a los empleados tradicionales en varias áreas clave:
- Ingreso medio de 85,000 dólares para freelancers a tiempo completo frente a 80,000 dólares para empleados tradicionales
- El 54% de los freelancers reporta un dominio avanzado de IA frente al 38% de los empleados a tiempo completo
- El trabajo relacionado con IA en Upwork creció un 60% interanual en 2024
La plataforma ahora cuenta con más de 12,000 especialistas en IA en EE.UU. El estudio también encontró que las empresas de alto crecimiento tienden a utilizar más freelancers (45%), servicios gestionados (50%) y colaboración humano+IA (41%). Cabe destacar que el 37% de los freelancers tiene estudios de posgrado en comparación con el 20% de los empleados a tiempo completo, indicando una tendencia hacia carreras independientes más sofisticadas.
Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK)가 첫 번째 Future Workforce Index를 발표하며, 미국 지식 근로자의 28%가 현재 독립적으로 일하며 2024년에 1.5조 달러의 수익을 창출하고 있음을 밝혔습니다. 연구에 따르면 프리랜서가 여러 주요 분야에서 전통적인 직원보다 뛰어난 성과를 보이고 있습니다:
- 전일제 프리랜서의 중간 소득은 85,000달러로 전통적 직원의 80,000달러보다 높음
- 54%의 프리랜서가 고급 AI 숙련도를 보고한 반면, 전일제 직원은 38%에 불과
- 2024년 Upwork에서 AI 관련 업무가 전년 대비 60% 성장
플랫폼에는 현재 미국 내 12,000명 이상의 AI 전문가가 활동 중입니다. 연구는 또한 고성장 기업들이 프리랜서(45%), 관리 서비스(50%), 인간+AI 협업(41%)을 더 많이 활용하는 경향이 있음을 발견했습니다. 특히, 37%의 프리랜서가 대학원 학위를 보유하고 있어 전일제 직원의 20%와 비교해 더 전문화된 독립 경력을 향한 추세를 보여줍니다.
Upwork (NASDAQ : UPWK) a publié son premier Future Workforce Index, révélant que 28 % des travailleurs du savoir aux États-Unis travaillent désormais de manière indépendante, générant 1,5 billion de dollars de revenus en 2024. L'étude montre que les freelances surpassent les employés traditionnels dans plusieurs domaines clés :
- Revenu médian de 85 000 dollars pour les freelances à temps plein contre 80 000 dollars pour les employés traditionnels
- 54 % des freelances déclarent une maîtrise avancée de l’IA contre 38 % des employés à temps plein
- Le travail lié à l’IA sur Upwork a augmenté de 60 % en glissement annuel en 2024
La plateforme compte désormais plus de 12 000 spécialistes en IA aux États-Unis. L’étude a également révélé que les entreprises à forte croissance ont davantage tendance à faire appel aux freelances (45 %), aux services gérés (50 %) et à la collaboration humain+IA (41 %). Notamment, 37 % des freelances détiennent un diplôme de troisième cycle contre 20 % des employés à temps plein, ce qui indique une tendance vers des carrières indépendantes plus qualifiées.
Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK) hat seinen ersten Future Workforce Index veröffentlicht und zeigt, dass 28 % der Wissensarbeiter in den USA nun unabhängig arbeiten und im Jahr 2024 1,5 Billionen Dollar an Einnahmen erzielen. Die Studie zeigt, dass Freiberufler in mehreren wichtigen Bereichen besser abschneiden als traditionelle Angestellte:
- Median-Einkommen von 85.000 Dollar bei Vollzeit-Freiberuflern gegenüber 80.000 Dollar bei traditionellen Angestellten
- 54 % der Freiberufler geben an, über fortgeschrittene KI-Kenntnisse zu verfügen, verglichen mit 38 % der Vollzeitbeschäftigten
- KI-bezogene Arbeit auf Upwork wuchs 2024 um 60 % im Jahresvergleich
Die Plattform beherbergt nun über 12.000 KI-Spezialisten in den USA. Die Studie fand außerdem heraus, dass schnell wachsende Unternehmen eher Freelancer (45 %), Managed Services (50 %) und Mensch+KI-Zusammenarbeit (41 %) nutzen. Bemerkenswert ist, dass 37 % der Freelancer einen postgradualen Abschluss besitzen, verglichen mit 20 % der Vollzeitbeschäftigten, was auf einen Trend zu anspruchsvolleren unabhängigen Karrieren hinweist.
- Freelancer earnings outpace traditional employees ($85,000 vs $80,000 median income)
- 60% year-over-year growth in AI-related work volume
- Higher AI proficiency among freelancers (54% vs 38% for full-time employees)
- 82% of skilled freelancers report increased work opportunities
- Platform hosts 12,000 AI specialists in the U.S.
- 59% of business leaders remain wary of multi-company work
- 41% of business leaders are skeptical of AI tools
Insights
Upwork's research showcases its pivotal position in the AI-driven freelance economy, capturing high-value talent in a $1.5T market.
Upwork's inaugural Future Workforce Index reveals significant momentum in the company's strategic positioning within the evolving work marketplace. The research shows that 28% of U.S. knowledge workers now work independently, generating a collective
The most compelling business indicator is the
The research strategically positions Upwork at the intersection of two powerful trends: the rise of AI and the shift toward flexible work models. High-growth companies are
The data revealing freelancers on Upwork earn higher median incomes (
The generational shift is particularly noteworthy, with
Upwork Research Institute launches inaugural Future Workforce Index, revealing that skilled freelancers are outpacing full-time employees in earning power, AI adoption, and future-ready skills
PALO ALTO, Calif., April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Upwork Inc. (Nasdaq: UPWK), the world’s work marketplace that connects businesses with independent talent, today unveiled its inaugural Future Workforce Index, a flagship report analyzing the rise of skilled freelancers performing knowledge work and their impact on the workforce, economy, and business innovation. The findings reveal a paradigm shift in how work gets done, with more than one in four (
As the world moves rapidly toward increasingly AI-powered and more flexible work models, freelancers are outpacing full-time employees (FTEs) in AI adoption and expertise in high-growth categories of work. Gross services volume for AI-related work on Upwork grew
Freelancers also excel in the critical skills needed to thrive alongside AI, including problem-solving, critical thinking, and adaptability—reinforcing their position as future-ready talent. Seventy-one percent of freelancers on Upwork report high proficiency in problem-solving, compared to just
“The traditional 9-to-5 model is rapidly losing its grip as skilled talent chooses flexibility, financial control, and meaningful work over outdated corporate structures,” said Kelly Monahan, managing director of the Upwork Research Institute. “Companies that cling to old hiring and workforce models risk falling behind, while those embracing independent professionals are driving growth and innovation. The future of working differently isn’t coming; it’s already here with skilled independent talent leading the way.”
Key findings from the report include:
- Skilled freelancers performing knowledge work are fueling the U.S. economy, earning a total of
$1.5 trillion in 2024: More than 1 in 4 (28% ) knowledge workers in the U.S. freelance, translating to more than 20 million individuals. Notably, those who earn exclusively through freelance work report a median income of$85,000 , surpassing their full-time employee counterparts at$80,000.
- Freelancing is evolving into a more sophisticated and intentional career path, particularly among highly educated professionals: Skilled freelancers are investing heavily in their own development—
37% hold postgraduate degrees, compared to just20% of full-time employees. As advanced expertise becomes more prevalent in the freelance workforce, many are embracing a range of flexible work models, including Freelance Business Owner, Agency Freelancer, Managed Services Freelancer, and AI-Enabled Freelancer.
- Skilled freelancers are outperforming full-time employees, particularly in AI: Across all dimensions of the Future Workforce Index, freelancers lead in continuous learning, AI adoption, and human skills critical for AI integration. More than half (
54% ) of freelancers report advanced AI proficiency compared to38% of full-time employees, while29% have extensive experience building, training, and finetuning machine learning models (vs.18% of FTEs). Freelancers also excel in the human skills essential in working alongside AI, including communication (47% vs.40% of FTEs), critical thinking (43% vs.38% ), problem-solving (49% vs.44% ), and adaptability (41% vs.37% ).
- High-growth companies are embracing non-traditional talent models and reaping the benefits: Among over 400 publicly traded U.S. organizations, those in the top
25% of year-over-year revenue growth are more likely to embed freelancers (45% ), managed services (50% ), human+AI collaboration (41% ), and agencies (39% ) into their workforce strategies. Yet despite these results, many business leaders remain hesitant—59% are wary of multi-company work and41% are skeptical of AI tools.
- The future of skilled knowledge work is freelancing—and it’s only accelerating: Over one-third (
36% ) of full-time employees are considering freelancing for better opportunities, while only10% of freelancers want to return to traditional employment. Gen Z is leading the shift, with53% of skilled Gen Z workers already freelancing—a trend that will reshape the workforce as they comprise30% of U.S. workers by 2030. Optimism is high, with84% of freelancers and77% of full-time employees believing freelancing’s best days are ahead. Meanwhile,82% of skilled freelancers report more work opportunities than a year ago, compared to just63% of full-time employees.
“Skilled knowledge freelancers are at the intersection of innovation, AI, and workforce transformation,” said Gabby Burlacu, senior research manager of the Upwork Research Institute. “As they continue to grow in importance, they are driving change in how work is structured and how businesses operate. These freelancers are thriving on Upwork, where we’re seeing firsthand just how adaptable, AI-proficient, and outcome-focused they are, making them critical partners for businesses seeking to innovate, embark on AI transformation, and grow.”
To explore the full findings of the Future Workforce Index, visit: https://www.upwork.com/research/future-workforce-index-2025.
Methodology
The Upwork Research Institute surveyed 3,000 U.S.-based skilled knowledge workers between December 2024 and February 2025 to analyze workforce trends. Participants were selected based on their roles, earning levels (per BLS data), and self-reported freelance work within the past 12 months. The margin of error is ±
To estimate earnings, findings were extrapolated using BLS data on management, professional, and related occupations, representing
About Upwork
Upwork is the world’s largest work marketplace that connects businesses with highly skilled independent talent from across the globe. From entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 enterprises, companies rely on Upwork’s trusted platform to tap into expert talent, leverage AI-powered work solutions, and drive meaningful business outcomes. With access to professionals spanning more than 10,000 skills across AI & machine learning, software development, sales & marketing, customer support, finance & accounting, and more, Upwork enables businesses of all sizes to scale, innovate, and build agile teams. Upwork’s platform has facilitated more than
Contact:
Christine Lee
press@upwork.com
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