Upwork Inc., the world’s work marketplace that connects businesses with independent talent, has officially published results from its latest annual In-Demand Skills report, which was designed to predict skills that will be most in demand during 2025.
Going by the available details, the stated survey would highlight a dual emphasis on advanced technical skills and human-centric roles so to relay the evolving demands of a workforce, demands that are driven by emerging technologies, digital transformation, and global disruption.
More on the same would reveal that job postings are going to still require advanced AI skills, such as generative AI modeling and AI data annotation, but at the same time, there will also be a strong demand for roles like career coaching and training & development. Such a dynamic reveals how human-centric roles remain essential to complement advanced, new-age AI capabilities in a fast-changing work landscape.
“The data reveals a dual narrative,” said Kelly Monahan, managing director of the Upwork Research Institute. “On one hand, there’s explosive demand for technical expertise in areas like AI. On the other, businesses are investing in coaching and human development to help their teams navigate technological change. Businesses are recognizing that the future of work isn’t just about technology—it’s about empowering people to leverage that technology effectively.”
Talk about Upwork report on a slightly deeper level, we begin from the unprecedented growth projected in specialized AI skills. This, in turn, will build upon 220% year-over-year growth already observed by generative AI modeling and AI data annotation, thus reflecting the rapid integration of AI into industries like healthcare, finance, and marketing.
Next up, Upwork forecasts a shift towards deep expertise over generalist roles. The stated prediction comes on the back of more and more businesses prioritizing deep, technical expertise within the give area. This means generative AI modeling now command premium rates, with freelancers in these areas earning up to 22% more on an hourly basis than traditional roles in AI & machine learning.
Moving on, the report in question also, like we briefly touched upon, foresees a significant surge in career coaching and development roles. You see, human-centric roles like personal coaching have already cemented their place among the fastest-growing skills on the platform, with demand increasing by 74% year-over-year. This trend is now expected to grow further amidst the rising importance of guidance and adaptability, as businesses invest in reskilling their workforces to navigate technological change.
“Earning premiums for advanced skills like generative AI modeling reflect the value businesses place on AI technology,” said Teng Liu, economist at Upwork. “These premiums highlight the scarcity of these specialized skills and their significant role in driving business productivity and competitive advantage.”
Hold on, we still have a few bits left to unpack, considering we still haven’t touched on the way Upwork’s report tips freelancers to drive a large chunk of the innovation. We get to so say so because more than half of businesses (49%) are turning to freelancers to address critical skill gaps, and 48% of CEOs plan to increase freelance hiring over the next year.
Another detail we haven’t yet touched upon relates a piece of data, which claims that 2025 will be more about expertise than degrees. This claim is rooted in 74% of executives saying degrees are irrelevant when hiring freelancers. Instead, the focus is now firmly on proven expertise. In fact, 78% of CEOs assert that their top freelancers contribute more value than degree-holding employees.
Among other things, we ought to mention that the data for Upwork’s study was actually derived from the company’s proprietary database, analyzing freelancer earnings and job postings from January 1, 2024, to October 31, 2024. The said analysis focused on completed jobs where each skill generated at least $100,000 in aggregate freelancer earnings during the period.
“As organizations adopt advanced technologies, they must also cultivate the skills and resilience needed for their teams to thrive in an era of rapid transformation,” said Monahan. “One way to do this is through highly specialized freelancers who can help drive adaptability and innovation. For professionals, there’s significant opportunity in focusing on niche specializations.”
