Yes, there have always been low-rate freelancers on Upwork, but I think the numbers have skyrocketed since the start of the pandemic. Upwork removed barriers to entry and skill tests, which allowed many inexperienced freelancers to join the platform. All of this was done--in my opinion--to boost profits by monetizing the sheer volume of freelancers using the platform.
Before this, I think Upwork actually cared about matching subject matter experts with quality jobs. Unfortunately, they never figured out how to make a profit when following this model, so they found a new model--utilize the high volume of freelancers here, and capitalize on the type of freelancer dominating the marketplace (low-skilled, inexperienced freelancers who will spend Connects).
And Upwork has (for as long as I've been here), been tilted in favor of the low-rate Freelancers because (at least prior to the Casino Era), Upwork has preferred the easier, cheaper hire rather than the more difficult sell of a more expensive contract.
I can understand this viewpoint if you've been watching Upwork since 2021-2022 until now. But before the influx of millions of freelancers during the pandemic, Upwork stated its preference for long-term freelancer/client contracts, and has continued to say the same thing every year. Upwork's sales efforts are primarily targeted at large enterprise clients and other clients who have larger, longer-term needs and will spend large amounts of money. They target the clients that seek large, long-term contracts because that's where the money is; not the easier, cheaper hire contracts.
Upwork is not adapting to the prevelance of low-rate freelancers, they have created demand for low-rate freelancers and have tailored the platform to cater to these low-rate individuals.
I think we're both saying the same things (sort of), but approaching it from different angles. I believe--like you do--that Upwork has tailored certain sections of the marketplace to invite, cater to, and monetize low-rate freelancers. They never made a profit until the first or second quarter of 2023, so they had to do something.
But my observation about "adaptation" is based on machine learning algorithms and how they work. Because Upwork has allowed a high volume of inexperienced and low-rate freelancers to proliferate, the algorithm is now favoring lower rates. This is why many Expert-Vetted, Top-Rated Plus, and Top-Rated freelancers are seeing fewer invites, declining proposal views, and noticing their profiles ranking lower than inexperienced, low-rate freelancers. I believe the rankings, rates, visibility, etc., are determined by how much the algorithm has adapted to the inexperience and lower rates that dominate the platform.
In my opinion, there are more low-skill freelancers than high skill experts freelancers, and Upwork's algorithm is simply doing what algorithms do--it learns and adapts.
