Over the last few years, remote work statistics have changed drastically for a number of reasons.

Remote work may not be a foreign concept, but it has definitely taken the world by storm since the onset of Covid-19 at the beginning of 2020.

In our current era, roughly 55% of brands worldwide offer some type of remote work opportunity, and people in many countries are looking for remote positions.

This influx of people who have decided to work remotely is vast, and it has caused quite a disruption in the traditional work environment.

For this article, you’ll get a look at how statistics on remote work have changed and why it’s becoming more normalized.

Remote Work Statistics

Key Takeaways:

• 36.2 million Americans will be working in remote positions by 2025
• 16% of companies in the U.S. are fully remote
• 66% of U.S. employees work remotely, at least part-time
• 15% of work opportunities in the U.S. are now remote positions
• 55% of U.S. residents are confident their industry can handle work from home

Statistics on Remote Work in 2023

There was a lot of controversy surrounding remote work opportunities back in 2020.

Now that a few years have passed, remote work is seen as an increasingly normal part of the workforce.

More and more people are hoping to switch to a remote working position, as many agree it significantly improves their quality of life.

Statistics provide an insightful view of how attitudes toward remote work have changed and what’s causing this shift nationally and globally.

It’s still a rapidly growing industry, and some people have found finding a reliable, full-time remote work position rather challenging. 

Hybrid working environments are also becoming more common.

The statistics listed in this article will provide an overall view of the changes occurring in the remote workforce.

1. Americans that Work Remotely

Current data on the U.S. workforce shows that 55% of Americans believe their work can be handled at home.

Of course, this spans many different types of industries, and it shows where the minds of many people are headed.

As many people move to a remote working environment, others around them want to do the same.

This is even more prevalent in certain industries, such as software development, finance, and marketing.

In these industries, around 75% of employees feel all or most of their work can be handled at home.

However, there are also numerous industries that don’t see remote opportunities in sight any time soon.

One example would be the retail space, where less than a third of respondents see remote work as an option.

Roughly 75 million Americans feel that their job could be translated to a remote position, either part-time or full-time.

(TeamBuilding)

2. The Future of Remote Opportunities

There are some organizations that are entirely fighting against the idea of remote work simply because they can’t have eyes on employees at all times.

In the last year or two, there was a noticeable decrease in remote workers as restrictions from Covid-19 have lifted.

Many companies required workers to return to the office, while others embraced a hybrid or fully remote work culture.

Analysts have been hard at work to determine the future of remote work opportunities.

Many experts are confident that, by 2025, roughly 36.2 million Americans will be working remotely.

Even if corporations fight against this shift in work culture, it won’t stop the rising preference among the workforce.

This rapid shift that the world is currently experiencing is forcing many companies to adapt or suffer from a dwindling number of employees. 

(Zippia)

3. The New Normal

Part of the struggle that employers are facing is employee retention.

As many corporations require their employees to return to the office, many of those employees would rather look for another job that’s remote.

This trend has led to 85% of managers believing that remote work will eventually be the new normal in the working culture.

Roughly 59% of workers would rather quit and look for a remote position than return to a traditional office environment.

This is working in their favor as an increasing number of remote positions are popping up across many different industries.

Another statistic supporting these trends is that 74% of workers admit they are less likely to leave a company if they can work remotely full-time.

This may cause a decent amount of controversy, but it’s the first time in years that the workforce has had some power over corporations.

(Zippia)

4. Executives are Struggling to Adapt

There’s an evident cause as to why many company executives fail to see the benefits of a company culture that focuses on remote work.

Some of this has to do with generational differences, as many people in older demographics don’t see the benefits of remote work.

A recent report highlighted that only 5% of business executives believe remote work can also provide a strong company culture.

It isn’t hard to see why employees love remote work so much.

You can also assume that if employees are generally happier, a company should have a healthier company culture.

Many executives will use certain buzzwords to get their point across.

However, the truth is they simply want to retain control over their employees.

Even if some executives remain resilient, they’ll have to adapt eventually.

As people continuously walk away from in-office work environments, corporations are forced to fill those positions in some way or another.

This is causing a forced shift to creating remote work positions, as that’s the only type of work many people are willing to agree to.

(TeamBuilding)

5. Rising Availability of Remote Jobs

As employees exit the in-office work environment, people have more options than ever for remote work positions.

45% of Americans state they would rather take a cut in pay than return to the office.

It’s evident that people are fed up and are prioritizing their own needs and mental health over a paycheck.

However, not every aspect of remote work is positive, as some people have learned that it isn’t the best for them.

Since 2020, employees have had a few years to experience what remote work is like, and some have learned that they prefer an in-office work culture.

This hasn’t stopped the demand for remote work opportunities; it’s just diversifying the workforce.

You can simply take a look at LinkedIn and see a massive uptick in the number of remote jobs that pop up on a daily basis.

Even if remote work doesn’t work for everyone, there are many people that are sticking to their guns and will only take a remote position.

(GoodHire)

Pros and Cons of Remote Work

When the topic of remote work comes to mind, it’s pretty easy to see the benefits that come with it.

A better work-life balance, increased productivity, and overall happiness are some of the biggest selling points. 

Why people seek out remote work positions varies based on individual needs.

Some people have kids, while others simply could care less about socializing at work or being stuck in an office all day.

Regardless, remote work has proven to come with several benefits that are hard to pass up.

6. More Productivity

It can’t be argued that many employers have seen an increase in overall productivity since the rise of remote work.

Employees are dealing with fewer distractions and are able to hone in on their tasks in the comfort of their homes.

68% of companies surveyed admitted to an increase in employee productivity.

Moreover, 94% of employees mention their productivity is the same or higher in a remote work environment.

For a more specific number, research has shown that productivity increases by at least 22% if employees are able to work from home.

(Zippia)

7. Work-Life Balance

This is likely to be one of the biggest positive aspects of remote work.

75% of employees who transitioned to remote work feel like they have a better work-life balance.

You can find a few key points and statistics about employees’ work-life balance in the list down below.

• Reduced stress – 57%
• Reduced absence – 56%
• Less sick days – 50%
• Better morale – 54%

There’s no doubt that many people find a better work-life balance in a remote work position.

Once again, the lifestyle may not be for everyone, but it acts as a great medium between personal life preferences and a daily work schedule.

62% of workers feel a sense of more engagement with their work, and 21% would happily give up vacation time for more flexible working conditions.

You may be surprised to learn that 16% of employees would also give up employer-matching retirement contributions. 

These are pretty bold claims, but the numbers are also a testament to the fact that people want change.

Employers have found out that turnover rates have reduced by at least 50% thanks to remote working conditions.

There are benefits for both sides of the same coin, but not everything is perfect when it comes to working remotely.

(Zippia)

8. Difficulties of Remote Work

There are a few downsides when it comes to remote work, and many people don’t realize it until they’re already sunk into that position.

40% of remote workers find it hard to wind down after work.

This is primarily due to the new reality that their home is now their office, and it never feels like they really left work.

Some issues pertain to the social aspect of an office environment.

50% of people in remote positions feel pretty isolated.

This probably weighs more on extroverted individuals, as introverts are on the other side of the spectrum, thriving in isolation.

In some cases, there are people who learned that they simply prefer the in-office environment as a whole.

6%, to be exact, and these individuals aren’t really a fan of being inside their home day and night. 

On the other hand, 45% of employees would be entirely satisfied with a hybrid working schedule.

This makes a lot of sense, as it reduces the amount of time you physically have to be in the office but doesn’t eliminate it entirely.

(Zippia)

The Evolving Consensus

Even though remote work is garnering a significant amount of attention in corporate culture, it isn’t the perfect solution to every scenario.

Employers and the workforce are consistently working through the pros and cons of remote work to discern what’ll work best for everyone.

There’s a middle ground that’ll be determined over the years, but there will also be many people who will only choose remote work any chance they get.

One issue employers are trying to ward off is empty office space.

With numerous people preferring to work from home, this can end up being a cost issue for sizable corporations.

Businesses that invested in office space and real estate to host 1,000 workers will be on the short end of the stick.

Especially if 50% of those people never come back to the office.

Overall, this wave of interest in remote work will be increasing, especially with new generations of employees.

Working in an office day in and day out has been a complaint with employees for generations, and many people never want to go back to that lifestyle.

What seems like the best solution for both parties is a hybrid agreement.

A handful of days in the office and a few days at home make work life a lot easier for many people.

The Bottom Line

Remote work has been of heavy interest since Covid-19 forced everyone into their homes.

As time moved on, the landscape and reality of remote work started to change as the pros and cons came to light.

It has caused a shift in the global workforce, one to which corporations and employees will have to learn to adapt to.

This article features some of the most relevant remote work statistics that provide a clear look into the preferences of both workers and their employers.

Sources