Upwork Releases 2026 In-Demand Skills Report Highlighting AI Growth
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 04 2026
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Should l Buy UPWK?
Source: Newsfilter
- Surge in AI Skill Demand: The 2026 Upwork report reveals a 109% year-over-year increase in demand for AI-related skills, with AI video generation and editing skyrocketing by 329%, indicating that businesses are increasingly leveraging AI to enhance efficiency and innovation in traditional fields.
- Human Expertise Remains Valued: Despite the expansion of AI tools, companies continue to hire human talent at scale, particularly in areas like full stack development, data analytics, and graphic design, underscoring the enduring importance of human creativity and judgment.
- Rise in Flexible Talent Needs: 77% of business leaders report that AI is increasing their demand for specialized, fractional talent, suggesting a shift in workforce structure towards more flexible and specialized roles as companies adapt to new technological landscapes.
- Efficiency Boost from Human-AI Collaboration: Upwork's research indicates that human-AI collaboration can enhance project completion rates by up to 70%, reflecting not only AI's supportive role in work but also emphasizing the irreplaceable nature of human input in complex tasks.
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Analyst Views on UPWK
Wall Street analysts forecast UPWK stock price to rise
10 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 13.110
Low
17.00
Averages
23.33
High
28.00
Current: 13.110
Low
17.00
Averages
23.33
High
28.00
About UPWK
Upwork Inc. operates a working marketplace, which connects businesses with independent talent. The Company's independent talent refers to the talent that includes independent professionals and agencies of varying sizes. The Company’s marketplace offerings are designed for clients looking to identify hiring. Its marketplace offerings provide clients with access to independent talent with verified work history on its work marketplace, as well as client feedback. They also receive perks, such as a verified client badge and highlighted job posts. Upwork Payroll is available to clients when they choose to work with talent that they engage through Upwork as employees. With Upwork Payroll, clients have access to third-party staffing providers to employ talent and meet their talent needs through its work marketplace. It offers two lines of service: managed services and enterprise solutions. Its managed services offer a service-led program management and full project lifecycle solution.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Revenue Growth: Despite the decline in active clients, Upwork reported a 4% year-over-year revenue increase in Q4, reaching $198.4 million, indicating resilience in revenue generation, particularly in expanding its small and midsize business market.
- AI Investment Returns: Upwork's aggressive investment in AI has paid off, with AI-powered search recommendations boosting GSV by over $100 million, and annualized GSV from AI-related work climbing over 50% to $300 million, showcasing the potential of technological investments.
- Optimistic Outlook: Upwork's guidance for 2026 includes projected revenue between $835 million and $850 million, with adjusted earnings per share expected to be between $1.43 and $1.48, reflecting confidence in future growth driven by diversification in AI and SMB sectors.
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- Client Decline: Upwork's active clients fell by 6% to 785,000, causing a stock price drop of over 19%, which understandably alarmed investors concerned about client retention.
- Revenue Growth: Despite the decline in active clients, Upwork reported a 4% year-over-year revenue increase in Q4, reaching $198.4 million, indicating resilience in revenue generation, particularly in expanding its small and midsize business market.
- AI Investment Returns: Upwork's aggressive investment in AI has paid off, with AI-powered search recommendations boosting GSV by over $100 million, and annualized GSV from AI-related work climbing over 50% to $300 million, showcasing the potential of technological investments.
- Optimistic Outlook: Upwork's guidance for 2026 includes projected revenue between $835 million and $850 million, with adjusted earnings per share expected to be between $1.43 and $1.48, reflecting confidence in future growth driven by diversification in AI and SMB sectors.
See More
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- Amentum Holdings Decline: Amentum Holdings' stock fell approximately 12% after fiscal Q1 revenue and adjusted EBITDA missed Wall Street analysts' consensus estimates, indicating market concerns over its financial performance and potential future financing capabilities.
- BP Suspends Buyback: BP Plc suspended its stock buyback program to strengthen its balance sheet, resulting in a 6% drop in its ADRs in the U.S., reflecting the company's cautious approach amid market volatility.
- ZoomInfo Downgrade: ZoomInfo Technologies forecasted first-quarter earnings per share between 25 to 27 cents, below analysts' expectations of 27 cents, leading to a 10% decline in its stock price, which may affect market confidence and investor sentiment.
- Ichor Holdings Surge: Ichor Holdings' shares soared 37% to a 52-week high due to strong demand driving a fourth-quarter earnings beat, highlighting the recovery potential in the semiconductor equipment market.
See More
Upwork Reports Better-Than-Expected Q4 Earnings
- Strong Earnings Report: Upwork reported Q4 2025 revenue of $198.41 million, exceeding analyst expectations of $197.52 million, indicating robust performance in the era of human-plus-AI collaboration and boosting market confidence.
- Adjusted Earnings Beat: The company posted adjusted earnings of $0.36 per share for Q4, surpassing the $0.31 estimate, suggesting improving profitability that may attract more investor interest.
- Cautious Future Outlook: Upwork anticipates Q1 2026 revenue between $192 million and $197 million, below the $200.83 million forecast, reflecting a cautious stance towards the short-term market environment.
- Stock Price Volatility: Despite the strong earnings, Upwork's stock fell 19.3% to $15.16 on Tuesday, indicating market concerns over future earnings expectations, which could impact investor confidence.
See More
Upwork Issues Weak Q1 Guidance Despite Q4 Beat
- Q4 Results Beat Expectations: Upwork reported fourth-quarter revenue of $198.41 million, exceeding analyst estimates of $197.52 million, with adjusted earnings of 36 cents per share, surpassing the 31 cents forecast, indicating some resilience in the company's performance.
- Weak Q1 Outlook: Despite a strong Q4, Upwork expects first-quarter revenue between $192 million and $197 million, falling short of analyst expectations of $200.83 million, reflecting potential softness in market demand.
- Full-Year Revenue Forecast: The company projects full-year 2026 revenue between $835 million and $850 million, slightly below the $836.15 million analyst estimate, highlighting uncertainty in future growth prospects.
- Technical Price Analysis: Upwork shares fell 23.68% in premarket trading to $14.34, significantly below both the 20-day and 100-day simple moving averages, indicating considerable weakness in the short term.
See More
Market Movers: AAppLovin, TSMC, BP, ON Semi, Credo, Upwork, ZoomInfo, and Others
- Stock Market Performance: Stock futures rose modestly on Tuesday, indicating a positive trend in the market.
- Tech Sector Influence: The increase in stock futures is attributed to a recent comeback in the technology sector, which has driven equities higher over the past two sessions.
See More
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- Revenue Guidance Increase: Credo Technology expects to report revenue between $404 million and $408 million, significantly up from prior guidance of $335 million to $345 million, indicating strong market demand and business growth potential.
- Significant Year-over-Year Growth: The company anticipates over 200% year-over-year growth in the current fiscal year, reflecting its competitive position in the industry and rapid market share expansion.
- Quarterly Growth Outlook: Credo also expects mid-single-digit sequential revenue growth to round out the year, suggesting continued strong performance in the coming months, which enhances investor confidence.
- Positive Stock Reaction: In pre-market trading, Credo Technology shares jumped 17.4% to $144.87, reflecting market optimism regarding its financial outlook and potentially attracting more investor interest.
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