Upwork is boldly reshaping how companies staff their teams, expanding far beyond freelance gigs.
On Wednesday, the company announced strategic acquisitions of Bubty and Ascen, aiming to capture a larger slice of the $650 billion corporate staffing market.
This move signals an ambitious push to redefine enterprise staffing beyond the traditional freelance economy.
A new chapter: Upwork’s big step into corporate staffing
Upwork’s latest acquisitions mark a key shift in the company’s business strategy. Bubty and Ascen will merge with Upwork’s existing enterprise services to create a standalone entity focused entirely on corporate staffing — not just project-based freelancing.
This new entity is designed to offer companies a broader spectrum of staffing options, including full-time, contingent, and hybrid workforces.
“We are amplifying our commitment to the enterprise sector by building capabilities that serve comprehensive staffing needs,” said Upwork’s spokesperson.
“Our goal is to be the go-to platform not just for freelancers but for organisations seeking flexible, scalable staffing solutions.”
Upwork’s move taps into rising demand among corporations to streamline how they manage diverse workforces, blending freelance talent with permanent and contract employees through one integrated platform.
By incorporating Bubty and Ascen’s technologies, Upwork strengthens its platform to cover end-to-end staffing requirements, from sourcing through onboarding and workforce analytics.
Analysts believe this strategic pivot gives Upwork a fresh edge against traditional staffing firms, positioning it as a one-stop solution in the increasingly complex world of corporate hiring.
“This acquisition allows Upwork to leapfrog beyond freelancers to serve the entire workforce ecosystem,” an industry expert explained.
“They are addressing a gap by offering enterprises a unified, digital approach to staffing flexibility.”
Upwork plans to finalise the integration later this year, with expectations to roll out new services that combine the best of freelance agility with the stability and compliance needs corporations demand.
This expansion could transform Upwork’s role in the employment market from a freelance marketplace into a full-fledged staffing powerhouse poised for growth in a $650 billion industry.
These developments underline how Upwork is evolving from a platform known for freelance jobs into a comprehensive workforce solutions provider. The corporate world is watching closely as Upwork redefines enterprise staffing.