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Upwork’s October Monthly Hiring Report shows businesses are turning to freelance talent in droves. Seventy-eight percent of companies plan to hire independent workers in the next three months, outpacing demand for full-time knowledge roles.
The trend comes as companies balance AI adoption with workforce reductions, according to Upwork researchers. While layoffs continue across industries, flexible talent is filling critical gaps.
In-demand skills
Customer-facing skills are in high demand ahead of the holidays, up 30% from earlier this year. Businesses cite flexibility and speed to hire as the main reasons they engage freelancers. Data management and mining also saw a 26% increase. As AI becomes part of everyday workflows, human expertise ensures accuracy, accountability and trust. Fifty-five percent of companies plan to hire data analysts and data scientists in the next three months.
Creative work is also surging as companies blend technology and human creativity. Game design and development contracts rose 38%, while the most sought-after skills for flexible talent include AI proficiency, digital marketing, and strategic and creative thinking.
“Freelancers give companies the agility and expertise full-time teams often can’t provide,” wrote an Upwork spokesperson.
For HR leaders, the report signals a prompt to rethink workforce planning, according to Upwork
