The number of people working remotely has increased dramatically in recent years.

In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that around 27% of the workforce was working remotely at least part time as of August and September 2022.

This number is up from just 5% in 2010.

There are several factors that have contributed to the rise of remote work.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to adopt remote work policies, and many of these policies have been kept in place even after the pandemic has subsided.

Additionally, the rise of cloud computing and other technologies has made it easier for people to work remotely.

The increase in remote work has had a few implications for businesses and workers.

For businesses, remote work can save on office space costs and can make it easier to attract and retain top talent.

For workers, remote work can offer a better work-life balance and can reduce commuting costs.

However, there are also some challenges associated with remote work.

For example, it can be difficult to build relationships with colleagues when you’re not working in the same physical space.

Additionally, remote workers may need to be more self-motivated and disciplined to be successful.

Overall, the rise of remote work is a significant trend that is likely to continue in the years to come.

Businesses and workers alike will need to adapt to this new way of working to be successful.

Key Statistics

• In the United States, there are over 4.7 million people working remotely at least half of the time.
• About 27% of the workforce in the United States is remote at least part-time.
• The remote work ideal has increased by only 5% since 2010.
• 16% of the workforce is fully remote.
• 32.6 million American workers will be working remotely by 2025.
• 40% of remote workers are more productive 

How Many People Work Remotely in 2023?

Statistics show that there are over 4.7 million people working remotely in the United States at least half of the time.

About 27% of the workforce in the United States is remote at least part-time.

The BLS shows that 27% of paid full-time days were worked from home in early 2023. 

However, there is more evidence among a few academic surveys of employees that reveal the percentage of people working remotely at least part of the time is closer to around 50%.

According to Upwork research, an estimated 32.6 million American workers will be working remotely by 2025.

If you’ve never heard of Upwork, it’s one of a few premier remote work marketplaces with thousands of jobs posted daily.

Virtually anyone can have the skills to work from home.

An Ergotron study revealed that 40% of remote workers are more productive as they work longer hours from home than those working in the office.

Even those who work in the hybrid remote space get more done than workers working solely from the office.

(BLS, Business News Daily, Forbes, MIT, Upwork)

What Skills are Needed to Work Remotely?

Some of the skills, or personality traits you need to effectively work in the remote, work from home environment include being self-motivated and self-disciplined, good communication skills, time management skills, at least some level of tech skills, and organizational skills. 

These are the essential skills you need to have.

Remember there are different levels of these skills, so nearly anyone can enjoy working from home.

Let’s look at the skills in more detail:

• Self-Motivated and Self-Disciplined: To successfully work remotely, you must be self-motivated and self-disciplined. This kind of work requires that you stay on track without the need for supervision. 
• Good Commnication: You need good communication skills to work remotely. This means you need to communicate effectively with customers, colleagues, and clients orally and in writing.
• Time Management: Even remote workers have deadlines, so you need time management skills to complete tasks on a deadline. 
• Tech Skills: At least some levels of technical skills are needed to work remotely. For instance, you need to know how to use email, download programs and files, know how to use data processing programs, and some other types of tech skills. Some companies will train you.
• Organizational Skills: You need to have some organizational skills to stay on track and organized in your work.

Some remote jobs require a college degree, while others don’t.

If you have experience and the skills to back it up, there are plenty of remote jobs on marketplaces like Upwork.

What are the Benefits of Remote Work?

In terms of remote work benefits, these are the things remote workers enjoy:

• Healthier Work-Life Balance: With more flexibility in when and sometimes where you work, you can often make your own schedule. This comes with better work-life balance.
• Increased Productivity: It’s been shown that remote workers are more productive than their office worker counterparts.
• Commute Savings: The savings of not having to commute to the office can save hundreds to thousands of dollars each year. In fact, remote workers are known to save an average of $6,000 annually. What would you do with $6,000?
• Greater Job Opportunities: Nowadays, remote workers have more job opportunities than ever. This is especially beneficial for people who live in rural areas or who have restrictions that prevent them from commuting.
• High Flexibility: Working as a remote worker lets you work for almost anyone in the world and some even while you travel. Many remote workers get to set their own schedules. 

Are There Challenges to Remote Work?

While remote work comes with its benefits, there are also these challenges you need to know.

Some of the challenges of remote work include:

• Distractions: Some remote workers tend to get distracted by things like household chores, outside noises, children, pets, etc. This is one of the reasons remote workers need to be organized and have a quiet space to work. 
• Loneliness: While not all remote workers experience loneliness, many do. they feel isolated from their coworkers/colleagues.
• Burnout: Burnout is more common among those working solely in person, but remote workers can also experience burnout. Setting clear boundaries in terms of their personal and work life.
• Communication Issues: When you’re not working in the same office space as your coworkers, it’s not unusual to have communication issues.
• Technology Issues: Technology isn’t perfect, so if your internet goes down, you’re not going to be able to work. Computer problems and other tech problems can affect your work.

Other challenges that come with remote work involve legalities.

For instance, how you pay your taxes, what equipment you need when employers say they will provide it, work-related data privacy, complying with employment law.

Whether you’re an employer or a remote worker, you need to know all these challenges.

While some statistics show that remote workers are less likely to be promoted compared to their office worker counterparts, other data shows that remote workers are 1.5% more apt to be promoted over their in-office counterparts.

What is the Future of Remote Work?

As of now, the future of remote work is uncertain, but clearly this trend is here to stay.

Some experts believe that remote work will become the norm in the future, while others believe that it will be a hybrid model with a mix of remote and in-office workers.

Only time will tell what the future holds for remote work, but it is clear that this trend is here to stay.

Where Can You Find Remote Work?

Here are some ways to find remote work:

• Search online job boards: There are many online job boards that list remote jobs.
• Network with people in your field: Talk to your colleagues, friends, and family members to see if they know of any remote job openings.
• Reach out to companies directly: If you’re interested in working for a particular company, reach out to them directly and inquire about remote job opportunities.
• Attend remote work conferences: There are a number of remote work conferences that you can attend to learn more about remote work and meet potential employers.

Conclusion

The number of people working remotely has increased in recent years and is likely to continue to grow in the years to come.

So, how many people work remotely today?

A number of factors is driving this trend, including the rise of cloud computing, the increasing availability of high-speed internet, and the growing demand for flexibility from workers.

The rise of remote work has some implications for organizations and workers.

For companies, remote work can save on office space costs and can make it easier to attract and retain top skilled talent.

For workers, remote work can offer a better level of work-life balance and can reduce the costs of commuting.

However, there are challenges that come with the remote work ideal.

For instance, it can be difficult to build relationships with colleagues when you’re not working in-person.

Additionally, remote workers often need to be more self-motivated and self-disciplined to achieve success.

There is no doubt that the rise of remote work is a significant trend that is likely to have a massive impact on the way we work today and in the future.

Businesses and workers alike will need to adapt to this new way of working to be successful.

Sources