The number of remote jobs has increased in recent years for a number of reasons, including the rapid advancement of technology and, more recently, the COVID-19 epidemic.
Even though the two-year worldwide quarantine caused the most significant increase in remote work in recent memory, there are advantages to remote work, with most remote workers citing improved work-life balance and higher productivity.
Because of this, most businesses and employers have also adopted remote work in one way or another, whether through more flexible work hours or hybrid work schedules.
The Origins and Evolution of Remote Work
- 41% of employees choose a hybrid work paradigm, currently the most popular type. The fully remote work approach (32%) and on-site work (27%) come next, in that order. Interestingly, most workers had full-time on-site positions before 2020 and had no urgent plans to move to alternative models. What then changed?
- Many were exposed to remote work for the first time due to the 2020 lockdown, which required a complete transition to remote work across most industries. As a result, according to an Owl Labs survey, 70% of workers said they would like to continue working remotely or in a hybrid environment even after the pandemic.
- According to a 2021 Accenture poll, 83% of global workers said the hybrid work model combining on-site and remote work was the best option.
- The tastes of workers continued to change throughout time. According to a survey conducted in 2022, the favoured working styles changed somewhat from the year before. In 2022, only 29% of respondents preferred remote employment, down from 34% in 2021. In-office work decreased from 29% to 22%, while hybrid work increased from 31% to 36%.
- Regarding gender, women (46%) seemed to prefer remote employment over men (39%). Conversely, men appeared to find in-office employment more enticing than women, with 24% of them saying they preferred it versus 19%.
- According to this study, almost 29% of workers changed employment, with remote workers having a higher likelihood of doing so (37%) than those who work in an office (21%). Better income (84%), more career options (82%), and a better work/life balance (78%) were the main justifications given for changing occupations.
- Even more intriguing was that 66% of research participants stated they would begin looking for a job that gave greater flexibility if their current jobs did not allow them to work remotely, while 39% indicated they would just resign.
- Comparably, a different survey conducted in 2022 discovered that 63% of employees would choose a better work-life balance over a higher income.
- Furthermore, these emotions persisted throughout time. According to Buffer’s research from 2022, 98% of participants intended to work remotely in some manner throughout their lives.
- Comparably, another study discovered that 88% of employees cited hybrid work as a top perk in a new position.
- So many people embraced remote work choices that, according to Buffer’s research, just 1% of participants had a bad experience.
- Furthermore, according to the report, 98% of remote workers said they would suggest remote work to others.
- Research continues to prove that many employees would rather work remotely or in a hybrid environment than in an office. For example, according to Atlassian’s State of Work study, a significant change was observed in the preferences of office-only, remote, and hybrid workers between 2021 and 2022: 22% in 2022 compared to 34% in 2021, 35% in 2022 compared to 39% in 2021, and 43% in 2022 compared to 27% in 2021, respectively.
- In general, the hybrid remote work model seems to be a good compromise between employees and employers; according to a January 2023 poll, 45.5% of remote workers had mixed agreements, compared to 20.5% working entirely from home.
How Companies Responded to Remote Work?
- Only 8% of businesses had flexible workplace practices before the 2020 shutdown.
- Nearly two-thirds (62%) of respondents had adopted some form of flexible work by 2021. Mid-size businesses (501–5,000 employees) were particularly proactive, with 70% having flexible work policies in place.
- Employers’ opinions on remote employment, however, are still changing. According to an OwlLabs report from that same year, 73% of people who worked from home during the epidemic eventually returned to the workplace at least one day a week.
- In actuality, 82% of businesses planned to resume pre-pandemic work schedules following the lockdown, despite 74% having previously pledged some scheduling flexibility.
- According to the State of Remote Work study for 2022, only 31% of employers provided entirely remote working options, and 41% of small businesses with 10 to 50 employees mandated that workers come into the office.
- What exactly does that mean for us now, then? To be honest, it depends on whoever you speak to. On the one hand, a McKinsey survey found that 58% of respondents said they could work from home at least once a week.
- However, several studies have discovered that working remotely is the exception rather than the rule. As of 2022, 36% of workers across all industries had returned to an entirely on-site work style, per an Accenture study.
- According to a different Atlassian poll, 82% of knowledge workers reported having an “in-office mandate,” while 25% of employees who claimed to have the option to work remotely reported feeling compelled to report to work.
- Lastly, according to a 2022 poll conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, just 27.5% of private sector companies, or 2.5 million, had workers who worked remotely full-time or occasionally.
- So, how do we make sense of this seemingly contradictory information? All points of view, though, might have value. The data matches better when each industry is examined separately rather than collectively.
- According to the same U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, the industries with the largest percentages of teleworkers were wholesale trade, educational services, and professional and business services, with 67.4%, 49%, 46%, and 39%, respectively. This implies that remote job opportunities are more common in some businesses, and the findings of studies frequently differ according to the industry studied.
Reasons Why Employees Choose Remote Work?
- The flexibility of remote work appeals to many workers. Ninety per cent of workers report experiencing burnout and think that flexibility, particularly when taking time off, could significantly lower their stress levels.
- However, being flexible extends beyond your working hours. The most significant advantages of working remotely for employees include being able to manage their time (22%) and select where they live (19%) and work (13%), according to research from Buffer.
- Further information can be found in Atlassian’s research, which demonstrates that US knowledge workers prefer remote work because, on average, they are happier working from home (47%).
- However, remote workers often report higher productivity levels in addition to freedom and enjoyment. A study conducted by Owl Labs found that 62% of employees feel more productive while working remotely, compared to only 11% who feel less productive.
- Additionally, a Buffer survey revealed that when working remotely, 70% of employees find it easier to focus, 65% manage stress better, and 50% avoid distractions.
- Lastly, employees are divided about where they prefer to innovate and brainstorm, even if they believe that the workplace is the most effective setting for some tasks, such as team meetings (51%), managing others (51%), and meeting new people (59%). While some people find their flow easier at home (37%), others thrive in the office (39%).
The Effect of Remote Work on Business
- Whether completely remote or hybrid, working remotely frequently entails costs unrelated to traditional work paradigms. The State of Remote Work Report by Buffer revealed that 64% of workers said their employers paid for hardware like monitors, while 40% said they were responsible for paying for home office supplies.
- Interestingly, only 28% of businesses offer home internet, despite it being the most essential tool for remote work.
- Coworking memberships are an additional expense organisations frequently pay for their remote workers. In the Buffer study, 22% of participants said their employers pay for their subscriptions, while 38% said they would prefer it if their employers did.
- In addition to labour costs, companies also have to consider remote work’s potential impact on profitability. For instance, 2024 State of Sales Report, 46% of salespeople believe in-person sales are more successful than remote sales.
- What does this mean, then? Is working remotely just an additional cost without a discernible impact on profits? On the other hand, there are significant financial advantages to working remotely. In contrast to traditional office setups, a hybrid type of remote work is seen by more than four-fifths of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) (82%) as a more cost-effective business model. This belief stems from an IWG survey.
- Results from Global Workplace Analytics, which indicate that hybrid work arrangements can save companies more than $11,000 per person yearly on average, provide credence to this line of reasoning.
- However, in what specific ways might remote work save businesses money? First off, there could be significant office rent savings. According to the IWG report, 65% of CFOs want to cut facility spending by more than 10% annually.
- According to a different survey, sixty per cent of American executives intend to reduce office space by at least half.
- These cost-cutting strategies have an apparent justification. Businesses can avoid signing costly long-term leases, modify their space requirements as needed, and save money by eliminating or drastically decreasing their need for office space. For instance, during the previous five years, Cisco saved $500 million by implementing hybrid working techniques.
- However, the benefits go beyond merely cutting office expenses. By themselves, worker costs show an intriguing pattern. According to an Owl Labs study, 52% of workers would be open to taking a pay drop of at least 5% in exchange for having more freedom to select where they work. Indeed, 23% said they would take a pay decrease of at least 10% in exchange for this perk.
- On the other hand, 67% of workers would anticipate a wage raise to offset increased commute expenses if they were prohibited from working remotely or in a hybrid environment.
- Beyond financial concerns, new research by IWG and Arup shows that remote working has the potential to cut urban carbon emissions by up to 87% in the US and 70% in the UK. These results imply that, for companies that decide to implement remote work models, the environmental effects of totally remote labour may be significant.
Remote Employment by Industry and Occupation
- Certain professions and sectors are clearly better suited for remote work than others. Comprehending these patterns aids in forecasting the future course of remote labour.
- As of 2023, the computer and IT sector is the leading industry for remote work. This is consistent with the fact that jobs in this industry are frequently digital and require a steady internet connection.
- Other sectors are following closely behind. Project management, marketing, and accounting & finance have all embraced remote work, utilizing digital tools and platforms to maintain productivity.
- Even industries historically relying on physical offices, like HR, recruiting, and customer service, are benefiting from remote work. Remote cooperation technologies have made it possible for these sectors to function efficiently from any place.
- When examining the most sought-after distant work roles in 2022, the top position is an accountant. This demonstrates how conventional office tasks, including bookkeeping, can be effectively converted to a remote format.
- Senior financial analyst, executive assistant, and customer service representative are among the other well-known remote job ads. Despite their diversity, all these professions can be successfully carried out without an actual office with the correct technology.
- The remote job list also includes many positions for recruiters, project managers, technical writers, product marketing managers, customer success managers, and graphic designers. The vast range of these positions reflects the growing acceptance of remote labour in various industries.
- These statistics, broken down by industry and vocation, demonstrate how widely accepted remote work is. The advent of digital tools and shifting workplace expectations has made remote work less of a fringe idea and more of a growing trend across many industries.
Computer and IT will be the Most Popular industry for Remote Workers in 2024.
- IT and computers
- Marketing
- Finance and Accounting
- Project Management
- Health and Medical
- Recruiting and HR
- Client Service
The Most Prevalent Remote Job ad in 2022 Was For an Accountant.
- Accountant
- Head of the Department
- Customer Support Agent
- Advanced Financial Analyst
- Hiring Manager
- Supervisor of Projects
- Writer of Technical Content
- Manager of Product Marketing
- Manager of Customer Success
- Graphics Designer
Final Words-Interesting Remote Work Statistics
Even if working remotely has difficulties, businesses and employees can benefit from more productive and fulfilling work environments if they approach the situation with the appropriate mindset and knowledge.
As the world continues to change and embrace flexibility, it’s critical to remember the statistics above when considering taking on your first remote function or employing remote team members.
FaQ's
Q1. What changes have you seen in remote work over time?
Thanks to changes in workplace relations and technological improvements, remote work has become more commonplace than a few years ago.
Q2. What main advantages might working remotely offer?
Working remotely can offer benefits such as better work-life balance, more flexibility, shorter commutes, and access to a larger talent pool.
Q3. What difficulties arise for remote work employees?
Remote workers may face challenges including loneliness, trouble collaborating, and balancing work and personal life.
Q4. How can businesses assist their remote employees?
Businesses may help remote workers by giving them access to the necessary resources and tools, encouraging teamwork and communication, and supporting work-life balance.
Q5. How does remote work look in the future?
The future of remote work is bright, with post-pandemic growth anticipated to continue and a greater emphasis on flexible scheduling and digital communication tools.
