AI and Data Jobs Are in Great Demand

Global work marketplace Upwork in its annual "In-Demand Skills Report for 2025" notes that nearly half of businesses (49 percent) rely on freelancers for key skills like web design and product management. What’s more, this year’s list sees unprecedented growth in specialized artificial intelligence skills, with generative AI modeling and AI data annotation growing as much as 220 percent, reflecting the rapid integration of AI into industries like healthcare, finance, and marketing. People working in these fields also earn more, it says.

"Earning premiums for advanced skills like generative AI modeling reflect the value businesses place on AI technology," says Teng Liu, an economist at Upwork. "These premiums highlight the scarcity of these specialized skills and their significant role in driving business productivity and competitive advantage."

UPWORK’S TOP 3 FASTEST GROWING SKILLS BY CATEGORY ARE THE FOLLOWING:

Coding and web development:

1. Scripting and automation.
2. Web design.
3. User experience/user interface design.

Data science and analytics:

1. AI data annotation and labeling.
2. Knowledge representation.
3. Generative AI modeling.

Design and creative:

1. Pattern design.
2. Product and industrial design.
3. Video production.

Sales and marketing:

1. Display advertising.
2. Campaign management.
3. Email marketing.

UPWORK’S TOP 10 MOST IN-DEMAND SKILLS BY CATEGORY ARE THE FOLLOWING:

Coding and web development:

1. Full-stack development.
2. Front-end development.
3. Web design.
4. Mobile app development.
5. Back-end development.
6. Ecommerce website development.
7. User experience/user interface design.
8. Scripting and automation.
9. Content management system development.
10. Manual testing.

Customer service and administrative support:

1. General virtual assistance.
2. Data entry.
3. Digital project management.
4. General research services.
5. Executive virtual assistance.
6. E-commerce management.
7. Market research.
8. Manual transcription.
9. Medical virtual assistance.
10. Business project management.

Data science and analytics:

1. Data analytics.
2. Machine learning.
3. Data visualization.
4. Data extraction.
5. Data engineering.
6. Data processing.
7. Data mining.
8. Experimentation and testing.
9. Deep learning.
10. Generative AI modeling.

Design and creative:

1. Graphic design.
2. Video editing.
3. Presentation design.
4. Image editing.
5. Illustration.
6. 3D animation.
7. Video production.
8. Product and industrial design.
9. Cartoons and comics.
10. Brand identity design.

Sales and marketing:

1. Social media marketing.
2. Search engine optimization.
3. Sales and business development.
4. Lead generation.
5. Search engine marketing.
6. Telemarketing.
7. Email marketing.
8. Marketing automation.
9. Marketing strategy.
10. Campaign management.

"Businesses are recognizing that the future of work isn't just about technology; it's about empowering people to leverage that technology effectively," says Kelly Monahan, managing director of the Upwork Research Institute.