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Upwork Freelance Forward

Upwork Freelance Forward Annual Survey

AI-focusedPublicWorker-side
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Specific Type
Survey on AI adoption
Dataset Type
Pooled cross-sectional
Institution
Upwork Inc.; Edelman Data & Intelligence
Institution Type
Industry
Level of Focus
Individual
Most Granular Level
Individual freelancer level
Perspective
Worker-side
Time Coverage
2014-present
Frequency
Annual
Sample Size
~3,000 professionals per wave
Geographic Detail
National (US)
Occupational Classification
Freelance occupation classifications
Industrial Classification
Various industries
Other Classification
Geographic (national); skill categories
Key Variables
AI usage patterns; freelancing growth; earnings; demographics; skill demand; industry trends
AI/Tech Tracking
Freelancers 2.2 times more likely to use generative AI regularly (20% vs 9%); detailed AI adoption tracking
Access Details
Published reports available; some microdata uncertain
Notes
64 million Americans freelanced in 2023, contributing $1.27 trillion to economy; tracks AI impact on freelance work

Key Papers

The Short-Term Effects of Generative Artificial Intelligence on Employment: Evidence from an Online Labor Market

Hui, Reshef, Zhou (2023)

Hui et al. (2023); Upwork Freelance Forward 2023