AI is reshaping work, and not just in tech. As automation spreads and job postings in exposed industries come under pressure, demand for reskilling, upskilling, and smarter human capital management is in sharper focus. That is the core idea behind this Workforce Reskilling and Human Capital Development screener. It looks at companies tied directly to training, staffing, and credentialing that could stand to gain as employers and workers adapt. In this article, you will see 3 stocks that appear positively exposed to the latest AI news and the shifting needs of the labour market.

American Public Education (APEI)

Overview: American Public Education is an education provider offering more than 180 online and campus-based degree programs, plus certificates and diplomas, across fields such as nursing, military and national security studies, business, IT, and public service, with a particular focus on working adults and the federal workforce.

Operations: The company generates about US$325.3m from its Military segment, US$329.6m from Segment Adjustment, and US$4.1m from Corporate and Other, with all reported revenue of US$659.0m coming from the United States.

Market Cap: US$903.8m

American Public Education sits at the intersection of AI-driven job disruption and the rising need for reskilling, with affordable programs in nursing and military-focused fields that management views as relatively resilient to automation. Recent guidance and earnings point to solid momentum, yet the company still carries meaningful risks, including reliance on federal funding, integration of multiple schools into a single institution, and insider selling that some investors will watch closely. For readers considering the impact of AI on work, key questions include how an educator like American Public Education can translate sector tailwinds in workforce upskilling into durable earnings power while managing regulatory and execution risks, and how the current relationship between price, analyst expectations, and cash flow estimates may influence future market perception.

American Public Education’s momentum in workforce reskilling could be hiding a more complex story around funding reliance and integration risk, so it is worth reviewing the 4 key rewards and 1 important warning sign

Upwork (UPWK)

Overview: Upwork is a global online work marketplace that connects businesses with freelance, agency, fractional, and payrolled professionals across skills such as AI projects, software development, design, marketing, and customer support, supported by collaboration tools, payments, compliance, and its Uma AI assistant.

Operations: Upwork generates about US$790.6m in revenue from Staffing & Outsourcing Services, with roughly US$361.4m coming from the United States and the rest spread across India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and other international markets.

Market Cap: US$1.2b

Upwork sits at the heart of AI driven workforce change, with clients increasingly using the platform both to source AI skills and to reorganize work around flexible, project based talent. AI related contracts and larger business customers are contributing to higher spend per client and a clearer earnings story. At the same time, internal AI use and recent cost resets, including a 24% workforce reduction, are aimed at lifting margins. Softer demand at the low end, slower new client acquisition, reliance on enterprise budgets, and ongoing fee and product experiments keep the risk profile real. For investors, the key question is whether Upwork’s AI focused, higher value mix can offset these pressures and support the earnings path implied by current expectations.

Upwork’s shift toward higher value AI projects and larger clients could be masking the real story behind its earnings path and risk profile, so it is worth reviewing the analyst forecasts for Upwork

Lincoln Educational Services (LINC)

Overview: Lincoln Educational Services provides career focused postsecondary training for high school graduates and working adults across automotive, skilled trades, health sciences, and information technology, operating schools under the Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln College of Technology, and Nashville Auto Diesel College brands in the United States.

Operations: Lincoln Educational Services generates about US$544.7m in revenue from its Campus Operations segment, all from the United States.

Market Cap: US$1.3b

Lincoln Educational Services sits at the center of the reskilling conversation, with programs in trades and technical fields that line up directly with shortages created by automation and AI adoption, and analysts expecting both revenue and earnings to grow from here. At the same time, the stock trades at a high P/E, carries higher risk funding, and has seen insider selling. This may mean expectations are already demanding and execution on new campuses and hybrid learning models has less room for error. Investors watching how AI reshapes employability may want to understand why Lincoln’s raised 2026 guidance, index inclusion, and employer partnerships are attracting interest, while concerns around capex, regulation, and program relevance are keeping some on the sidelines.

Lincoln Educational Services looks like an accelerating reskilling story, but the real question is whether expectations baked into today’s P/E and funding mix are justified. As a result, it is worth reviewing the analyst forecasts for Lincoln Educational Services

The three stocks here are a starting point, and the full Workforce Reskilling and Human Capital Development screener has surfaced 59 more companies with equally compelling stories around training, upskilling, and human capital tools through the Workforce Reskilling and Human Capital Development screener. Use Simply Wall St to identify and analyze the specific catalysts that matter to you, from funding mix and regulatory exposure to AI driven reskilling demand, so you can focus on the workforce training stocks that best fit your own highest conviction ideas.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.