✓ Connect with diverse talent

Upwork supports inclusive hiring by allowing Enterprise clients to connect with diversity-certified talent. Freelancers and agencies can display verified certifications from recognized organizations, making them searchable via a “diversity-certified” badge. Clients can promote inclusivity by enabling this search filter and welcoming proposals from talent of all backgrounds.

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Upwork’s mission is to create economic opportunities so people have better lives. Key to our mission is that these opportunities should be equally available to all qualified talent in our community, regardless of background, nationality, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, actual or perceived disability status, veteran status, marital status, or other similarly protected characteristics. 

We know that representation is a also priority for many of the businesses looking to engage freelancers on Upwork.

How can Enterprise clients find diverse talent on Upwork?

With certain criteria, agencies and freelancers can receive diversity certifications through third-party certification agencies.  Once they provide verified business-level diversity certifications on their profiles, they'll get a diversity-certified badge that Enterprise clients can see and filter for in talent searches. 

Here are just a few of the third-party agencies who currently provide certification to Upwork users who qualify as diverse businesses:

• National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)
• Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
• National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
• Disability:In
• National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC)

How can businesses use Upwork to meet inclusive hiring needs?

• Include a statement in your job post welcoming talent from all backgrounds to submit a proposal for your project
• Enable the “diversity-certified” search filter when you’re looking to invite talent to submit proposals for your project
• Check for the Diversity-Certified Badge on independent professionals’ profiles