Upwork AI layoff details
Explicit AI citedprimary
Reported layoffs: 145
Industry: Technology · Geography: Global
Upwork announced a restructuring plan expected to reduce its workforce by approximately 24%, with CEO Hayden Brown telling employees the company had rethought every function around people and technology and that AI lets smaller product and engineering teams have more impact.
Upwork's Form 8-K gives the official reduction as approximately 24% of the company's workforce. Final Round AI estimated the absolute impact at about 145 jobs out of a 600-person headcount; because the company source gives only a percentage, the count should be treated as a secondary estimate. This is classified as explicit AI cited because the CEO memo directly links the new team structure to AI-enabled smaller teams.
Sources
- Upwork SEC Form 8-K, 2026-05-07
- Upwork CEO employee memo, 2026-05-07
- Final Round AI, 2026-05-08