Remote Work Statistics & Trends: The Latest in Remote Work ...

Remote Work Statistics & Trends: The Latest in Remote Work
Over the past several years, the work landscape changed dramatically and permanently. So too has the perception of remote work, as the benefits for employers and employees alike have come to light.
Having a choice of work environment and location is now a key factor for many job seekers when searching for a better work-life balance and evaluating new career opportunities.
Just how much has remote work impacted the notion of business as usual? Here are some intriguing remote work statistics that offer a by-the-numbers look at where things stand.
Key Remote Work Statistics
The massive transition to remote work since 2020 has allowed professionals and companies alike to realize the benefits of remote work and, as a result, companies are adopting hybrid and remote work models for the long-term. A Gallup survey in June of 2022 found that 8 in 10 people are working hybrid or remote, while only 2 in 10 are entirely on-site. And this trend continues for future predictions.
A recent AT&T study found the hybrid work model is expected to grow from 42% in 2021 to 81% in 2024. And according to FlexJobs’ Employee Engagement Report, 48% of employers are maintaining some form of remote work for their workforce. When asked what their company’s post-pandemic workplace plans will be, 26% of respondents said their employer will follow a hybrid model, and 22% said they’ll be allowed to work remotely.
The bottom line is that companies have realized that physically being at the office full-time isn’t necessary to produce great results.
Many companies have already made the switch to hybrid and remote workplaces, including prominent brands such as Adobe, Salesforce, and Spotify. In fact, more companies across industries are joining long-time remote work advocates—like Automattic, GitLab, Toptal, and Zapier—in adopting permanent remote workplaces. Some of the latest thought leaders and companies embracing remote work include:
Employees are eager to continue working remotely or hybrid too. According to FlexJobs’ Career Pulse Survey (conducted between July and August 2022), 65% of respondents report wanting to work remotely full-time, while 32% want a hybrid work environment. That’s an astounding 97% of workers who desire some form of remote work!
— Remote Work Attracts and Retains Talent
In Remote.co’s Work & Financial Wellness Report, 63% of global workers surveyed said they would “absolutely” look for a new job if they couldn’t continue to work remotely. The high willingness of professionals to leave a current job for a new job with remote work signals the importance of work flexibility in today’s workforce. The survey also found this to be in line with the top factors professionals state they use to evaluate job opportunities:
Remote work options (84%)
Salary (81%)
Work-life balance (79%)
Work schedule (56%)
Meaningful work (50%)
Company culture (42%)
Skills training and education options (40%)
Career progression (40%)
Vacation time (38%)
Company reputation (38%)
Offering hybrid and remote work options may benefit companies that want to retain top talent. From 2019 to early 2022, a study discussed at the 2022 Stanford University Remote Work Conference found the share of postings that say new employees can work remotely one or more days per week rose threefold in the U.S. Anda FlexJobs survey conducted in early 2022 found that only 3% of professionals are looking to go back into the office 100% of the time. This comes as no surprise, as 87% of professionals state that remote work options improved their overall work-life balance.
For employers who are pushing for a return to office, FlexJobs’ Employee Engagement Report found 19% of employed professionals said that people are not complying with requests to return to the office—meaning nearly one in five are simply ignoring the requests to come back.
— Remote Work Is Good for Business
Research shows that businesses lose $600 billion a year to workplace distractions and that remote workers are 35-40% more productive than their in-office counterparts.
Among performance-based remote work statistics in 2020,94% of surveyed employers report that company productivity had been the same (67%) or higher (27%) since employees started working from home during the pandemic. More recently, a Microsoft study found nearly 90% of workers reported being productive at work in a remote or hybrid arrangement.
While there are many reasons why performance has improved, there are a number of common reasons remote work increases productivity.
Reasons Remote Workers Are More Productive
Fewer interruptions
Quieter work environment
More comfortable workplace
More focused time
Avoiding office politics
— Remote Work Leads to Better Mental Health
For better or worse, the work environment has a direct impact on mental and emotional health. During FlexJobs’ 2022 Career Pulse Survey, 84% of respondents stated that a remote or hybrid job would make them a happier person. And for those living with mental health issues, 77% stated remote or hybrid working arrangements would help them with managing their mental health better.
Additionally, in a survey with Mental Health America, FlexJobs found that respondents with flexible work options (including remote work) report better mental health. In fact, employees without access to flexible work are nearly two times more likely to have poor or very poor mental health.
Of those who have flexible work options, 48% say their work-life balance is excellent or very good, and 54% have the emotional support they need at work, compared to 36% and 45%, respectively, for respondents without flexible work.
The same survey found that more than three-quarters (76%) of respondents agree that workplace stress affects their mental health, leading to depression or anxiety, and 17% strongly agree.
For 56%, having flexibility in their workday is overwhelmingly listed as the top way workplaces can better support employees. Encouraging time off and offering mental health days were tied for second and third at 43%, and 28% felt that increased PTO and better health insurance were the next best ways companies can provide support moving forward.
And by making environmentally sound choices—like opting to use less paper and monitoring air-conditioning, heating, and lighting—remote workers can make a positive impact on air quality.
— Remote Work Is More Favorable in Certain Areas
According to research by WalletHub, not all states are considered equal when it comes to working from home, with some having more favorable remote conditions than others.
Based on 12 metrics, New Jersey, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Connecticut, and Massachusetts came out on top. Some of the data points that helped determine which states were most suited to remote work include:
Number of people working from home
Internet access and cost
Price of electricity and internet
Median and average home square footage
— Remote Work Is Impacting Real Estate
Remote work gives people more options for where they live, reducing the necessity to live near large metropolitan city centers to maximize career potential. And with companies allowing employees to work from home permanently, remote workers are taking advantage of their new location independence.
Whether it’s to flee cities with a high cost of living or to find more space to spread out, remote workers are realizing that they have more real estate choices than ever before.
— Remote Work Is Here to Stay
Over the past few years, companies have continued to move in the direction of supporting and advocating for remote work. With the Great Resignation came a great realization that working professionals need balance between their work and home lives, or at least to be able to integrate them in a way that works for them. And if that wasn’t realized, professionals were willing to look for a new job.
FlexJobs surveyed over 2,000 professionals in February and March of 2022, and two of the top reasons people found a new job were a lack of healthy work-life balance (49%) and no remote work options (43%).
At the same time, FlexJobs saw a 12% increase in remote job postings and a 52% increase in hybrid job postings. Specifically, the following career fields had consistently high volumes of available remote and hybrid roles and are considered strong prospects for job seekers.
And if you're looking for more control over your work environment, FlexJobs can help you find a remote or hybrid job that works for you. Members get exclusive access to remote and hybrid job postings in over 50 career categories, as well as discounted rates on career coaching and many other perks. Take the tour to learn more about the benefits of becoming a FlexJobs member! Once you've found a strong career fit, you can create a resume in three simple steps with this popular resume builder.