Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK) has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025 in the Human Resources category, recognizing its AI-driven approach to work solutions. The company’s flagship innovation, Uma™, Upwork’s Mindful AI, serves as an intelligent work companion that streamlines hiring, project management, and delivery processes.
Key achievements include:
- 70% of new clients using AI-powered Job Post Generator
- 8% higher fill rate for high-value jobs since Uma’s introduction
- 60% year-over-year increase in AI-related work GSV in 2024
- 42% increase in clients engaging with AI projects
- Freelancers in AI-related projects earning 44% more per hour than non-AI projects
The platform offers businesses accelerated hiring, smarter talent matching, and enhanced candidate evaluation across 250+ AI skills. For freelancers, Uma provides increased productivity tools, AI-assisted proposal writing, and higher earning potential. Upwork has facilitated over $20 billion in economic opportunity across more than 180 countries.
Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK) è stata nominata una delle aziende più innovative del 2025 da Fast Company nella categoria Risorse Umane, riconoscendo il suo approccio basato sull’IA per le soluzioni lavorative. L’innovazione di punta dell’azienda, Uma™, l’IA consapevole di Upwork, funge da compagno di lavoro intelligente che semplifica i processi di assunzione, gestione dei progetti e consegna.
Le principali realizzazioni includono:
- Il 70% dei nuovi clienti utilizza il Generatore di Annunci di Lavoro alimentato da IA
- 8% in più nel tasso di assunzione per lavori di alto valore dall’introduzione di Uma
- Aumento del 60% anno su anno nel GSV lavorativo legato all’IA nel 2024
- Aumento del 42% dei clienti coinvolti in progetti IA
- I liberi professionisti nei progetti legati all’IA guadagnano il 44% in più all’ora rispetto ai progetti non IA
La piattaforma offre alle aziende assunzioni accelerate, abbinamento più intelligente dei talenti e valutazione migliorata dei candidati su oltre 250 competenze legate all’IA. Per i liberi professionisti, Uma fornisce strumenti di produttività aumentati, scrittura di proposte assistita da IA e maggiore potenziale di guadagno. Upwork ha facilitato oltre 20 miliardi di dollari in opportunità economiche in oltre 180 paesi.
Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK) ha sido nombrada una de las Empresas Más Innovadoras de 2025 por Fast Company en la categoría de Recursos Humanos, reconociendo su enfoque impulsado por IA para soluciones laborales. La innovación insignia de la empresa, Uma™, la IA Consciente de Upwork, actúa como un compañero de trabajo inteligente que optimiza los procesos de contratación, gestión de proyectos y entrega.
Los logros clave incluyen:
- El 70% de los nuevos clientes utilizan el Generador de Publicaciones de Trabajo impulsado por IA
- 8% más en la tasa de ocupación para trabajos de alto valor desde la introducción de Uma
- Aumento del 60% interanual en GSV laboral relacionado con IA en 2024
- Aumento del 42% en clientes que participan en proyectos de IA
- Los freelancers en proyectos relacionados con IA ganan un 44% más por hora que en proyectos no relacionados con IA
La plataforma ofrece a las empresas contratación acelerada, emparejamiento más inteligente de talentos y evaluación mejorada de candidatos en más de 250 habilidades relacionadas con IA. Para los freelancers, Uma proporciona herramientas de productividad aumentadas, redacción de propuestas asistida por IA y mayor potencial de ganancias. Upwork ha facilitado más de 20 mil millones de dólares en oportunidades económicas en más de 180 países.
Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK)는 Fast Company의 2025년 가장 혁신적인 기업 중 인사 부문에 선정되어 AI 기반의 업무 솔루션 접근 방식을 인정받았습니다. 회사의 대표 혁신인 Uma™, Upwork의 마음 챙김 AI는 채용, 프로젝트 관리 및 납품 프로세스를 간소화하는 지능형 업무 동반자로 기능합니다.
주요 성과는 다음과 같습니다:
- 새로운 고객의 70%가 AI 기반 구인 공고 생성기를 사용하고 있습니다
- Uma 도입 이후 고부가가치 직업의 채용률이 8% 증가했습니다
- 2024년 AI 관련 작업 GSV가 전년 대비 60% 증가했습니다
- AI 프로젝트에 참여하는 고객이 42% 증가했습니다
- AI 관련 프로젝트의 프리랜서가 비 AI 프로젝트보다 시간당 44% 더 많은 수익을 올리고 있습니다
이 플랫폼은 기업에 신속한 채용, 더 스마트한 인재 매칭 및 250개 이상의 AI 기술에 대한 후보자 평가를 제공합니다. 프리랜서에게 Uma는 생산성 도구 증가, AI 지원 제안서 작성 및 더 높은 수익 잠재력을 제공합니다. Upwork는 180개국 이상에서 200억 달러 이상의 경제적 기회를 창출했습니다.
Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK) a été désignée comme l’une des entreprises les plus innovantes de 2025 par Fast Company dans la catégorie des Ressources Humaines, reconnaissant son approche axée sur l’IA pour les solutions de travail. L’innovation phare de l’entreprise, Uma™, l’IA consciente d’Upwork, sert de compagnon de travail intelligent qui rationalise les processus de recrutement, de gestion de projet et de livraison.
Les réalisations clés comprennent:
- 70% des nouveaux clients utilisant le Générateur d’Annonces d’Emploi alimenté par IA
- Taux de remplissage supérieur de 8% pour les emplois de grande valeur depuis l’introduction d’Uma
- Augmentation de 60% d’une année sur l’autre du GSV lié au travail d’IA en 2024
- Augmentation de 42% des clients s’engageant dans des projets IA
- Les freelances dans des projets liés à l’IA gagnent 44% de plus par heure que dans des projets non liés à l’IA
La plateforme offre aux entreprises un recrutement accéléré, un appariement de talents plus intelligent et une évaluation améliorée des candidats sur plus de 250 compétences liées à l’IA. Pour les freelances, Uma fournit des outils de productivité accrus, une rédaction de propositions assistée par IA et un potentiel de gains plus élevé. Upwork a facilité plus de 20 milliards de dollars d’opportunités économiques dans plus de 180 pays.
Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK) wurde von Fast Company als eines der innovativsten Unternehmen des Jahres 2025 in der Kategorie Personalwesen ausgezeichnet, was ihren KI-gesteuerten Ansatz für Arbeitslösungen anerkennt. Die Hauptinnovation des Unternehmens, Uma™, Upworks achtsame KI, fungiert als intelligenter Arbeitsbegleiter, der die Prozesse der Einstellung, Projektverwaltung und Lieferung optimiert.
Zu den wichtigsten Errungenschaften gehören:
- 70% der neuen Kunden nutzen den KI-gestützten Job-Post-Generator
- 8% höhere Besetzungsquote für hochpreisige Stellen seit der Einführung von Uma
- 60% jährlicher Anstieg des GSV in der mit KI verbundenen Arbeit im Jahr 2024
- 42% Anstieg der Kunden, die sich mit KI-Projekten beschäftigen
- Freelancer in KI-bezogenen Projekten verdienen 44% mehr pro Stunde als in nicht-KI-Projekten
Die Plattform bietet Unternehmen beschleunigte Einstellungen, intelligenteres Talent-Matching und verbesserte Kandidatenbewertung über mehr als 250 KI-Kompetenzen. Für Freelancer bietet Uma verbesserte Produktivitätstools, KI-unterstützte Vorschlagserstellung und ein höheres Verdienstpotential. Upwork hat über 20 Milliarden Dollar an wirtschaftlichen Chancen in mehr als 180 Ländern ermöglicht.
Positive
- Recognition as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies 2025
- Significant increase in AI-related work and platform adoption
- Higher earnings for AI-skilled freelancers
- Improved job fill rates through AI implementation
- Global economic impact reaching $20 billion
Negative
- Heavy dependence on AI technology adoption
- Potential skill gap between AI and non-AI workers
- historical performance data for Uma™ system
Recognition highlights Upwork’s AI-driven approach to delivering faster, smarter work outcomes for customers
PALO ALTO, Calif., March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK), the world’s work marketplace, today announced that it has been recognized by Fast Company as one of the Most Innovative Companies of 2025 in the Human Resources category. The honor highlights Upwork’s industry-defining approach to transforming how businesses and independent professionals achieve meaningful work outcomes—faster, smarter, and with greater agility—by combining human expertise with AI-powered tools.
“Being recognized by Fast Company as one of 2025’s Most Innovative Companies is a testament to how Upwork is actively shaping and leading the AI-powered future of work,” said Hayden Brown, president and CEO, Upwork. “We’re building critical innovative products for the new work ecosystem in the AI age, bringing together the best of what humans and cutting-edge technology have to offer in achieving work outcomes.”
Innovation that Delivers for Businesses and Professionals Alike
This recognition highlights Upwork’s leadership in transforming how businesses find and engage with talent in the AI age. As companies seek more agile, skills-based hiring models, Upwork’s AI-driven platform is unlocking faster hiring, more informed workforce decisions, and seamless collaboration.
At the center of this transformation is Uma™, Upwork’s Mindful AI, an intelligent work companion redefining how businesses and independent professionals collaborate—streamlining everything from matching and hiring to project management and delivery. Trained on millions of platform interactions, Uma empowers clients and freelancers to move from idea to execution faster than ever before, helping businesses drive results with speed and precision while enabling talent to focus on higher-value, impactful work.
For businesses, Upwork’s AI-driven platform delivers:
- Accelerated hiring with AI-powered tools like the Job Post Generator, with more than
70% of new clients opting in; high-value jobs from new clients are now filling at an8% higher rate since Uma’s introduction. - Smarter talent matching using AI algorithms trained on millions of highly relevant and varied platform interactions, enabling businesses to find the right high-quality freelancers faster and with greater accuracy.
- Enhanced candidate evaluation with AI-powered insights that help businesses quickly assess freelancer qualifications, ensuring they make informed hiring decisions with greater confidence.
- On-demand access to AI expertise, with freelancers in 250+ AI skills including model tuning, prompt engineering, and AI model integration.
For talent, Upwork’s AI innovation unlocks:
- Increased productivity through Uma, an AI companion that helps freelancers work more efficiently by simplifying tasks like drafting proposals, coding, and content creation. Freelancers are using the tool to streamline their workflows, save time, and focus on higher-value work.
- AI-assisted proposal writing, allowing talent to craft stronger, more tailored proposals faster, helping them stand out and win more work.
- Higher earnings potential, with freelancers working on AI-related projects earning
44% more per hour than those working on non-AI projects in 2024.
For businesses, the demand for AI-driven expertise continues to grow. In 2024, Upwork saw a
Creating Economic Opportunity at Scale
To date, the Upwork platform has facilitated over
“At Upwork, we’re breaking down barriers that prevent businesses and professionals from each achieving their dreams,” said Brown. “We’re ensuring businesses can access the global pool of highly skilled talent they need faster and more affordably than ever, and that talented professionals can thrive working on their terms in a true meritocracy. This honor from Fast Company reflects the scale and importance of delivering on this vision for a better world of work.”
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:
Elisabeth Hutchinson
press@upwork.com
FAQ
How has Upwork’s AI implementation improved job fill rates in 2025?
Since introducing Uma™, Upwork’s AI system, high-value jobs from new clients are filling 8% faster, with 70% of new clients using the AI-powered Job Post Generator.
What is the earnings difference between AI and non-AI projects on UPWK in 2024?
Freelancers working on AI-related projects earned 44% more per hour compared to those working on non-AI projects in 2024.
How much did Upwork’s AI-related work grow in 2024?
Upwork experienced a 60% year-over-year increase in gross services volume from AI-related work, with a 42% increase in clients engaging in AI projects.
What is the total economic impact of Upwork’s platform globally?
Upwork has facilitated over $20 billion in economic opportunity for independent talent across more than 180 countries.
How many AI-related skills does Upwork’s platform currently offer?
Upwork offers access to freelancers with expertise in over 250 AI skills, including model tuning, prompt engineering, and AI model integration.
Source: Fast Company Names Upwork Most Innovative: AI Platform Drives 70% Client Adoption
