Fiverr, an online freelance platform, has planned to lay off 30% of its workforce as part of a major restructuring aimed at turning the company into an “AI-first” platform.
This decision carries weight for many Africans, especially Nigerians. Fiverr, alongside Upwork, has long become a reliable source of income for freelancers across the continent, providing access to global clients in areas such as design, writing, and programming. The company’s pivot to automation raises questions about how human talent from Africa will be valued in an increasingly AI-driven marketplace.
CEO Micha Kaufman said the restructuring will make Fiverr “leaner, faster, with a modern AI-focused tech infrastructure” and a smaller, more productive workforce. Fiverr’s decision mirrors trends at larger tech firms like Salesforce, which are investing heavily in AI agents to automate customer service and operations.
Read also: 30 proven ways to make money online from home in Nigeria
Fiverr said it does not expect the layoffs to disrupt its marketplace operations in the near term and plans to reinvest some of the savings into the business. However, with AI now central to the platform, African freelancers may face tougher competition, especially in fields where automation is rapidly advancing.
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