A clearly articulated remote work policy is vital to establishing appropriate expectations and boost productivity. Remote work is more preferred among higher-level roles, such as executives and managers, compared to entry-level positions. Remote work preferences vary across age groups, with Millennials and Gen Z showing the highest preference for remote work. We encourage you to explore Virtual Vocations’ social media profiles and connect with us. Visit Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest for more remote work content and conversations.

While remote work offers tangible benefits, including flexible hours and cost savings, it also presents challenges such as digital burnout and reduced social connection. Employers and employees must work together to maximize the benefits while effectively addressing the challenges to create a healthy and productive remote work environment. Understanding these preferences is vital for organizations designing their remote work policies. The goal should be to harness the benefits of remote work—such as increased productivity and improved work-life balance—while addressing potential drawbacks to ensure a positive remote work experience for all employees.

About 16% of companies are already fully remote, operating without a physical office 5. These companies are pioneers in the remote work paradigm, highlighting the feasibility of such models and paving the way for others to follow. Jennifer Soper has 25+ years of writing and content design experience, working with small businesses and Fortune 100 companies. For over a decade, Jennifer worked as an HR generalist, providing expertise in accounting, payroll, and HR by implementing payroll and benefits best practices and creating onboarding and employee-relations documentation. Remote employees may be more engaged, healthier, and productive employees, but they also struggle with disconnecting.

Remote work trends will continue

Most remote workers believe that their career advancement depends more on their output and impact than their physical presence in a physical office. Remote workers reported that using remote collaboration tools is linked to a potential 30% increase in employee productivity. The technology industry has the highest number of remote jobs, with about half of its job postings offering remote options. Tech employees work from home an average of 2.28 days per week, and alongside tech, finance, professional services, and healthcare, they have rapidly integrated remote work practices. As remote work matures, businesses are increasingly focused on finding the right balance between remote flexibility and in-office collaboration. Some organisations have adopted hybrid models where employees split their time between home and the office, while others allow employees to choose their in-office days while ensuring core collaboration remains intact.

The Tool to Help Remote Businesses Run More Efficiently

The pandemic showed many workers just how much money they could save by not commuting to an office or workplace every day. In expensive cities (the LendingTree study looked at the top 100), the costs of public transportation, gas, tolls, and parking can easily reach into the thousands of dollars per year. Instead of spending this money on their job, workers can see extra savings build up, increasing their satisfaction with their job. If offered the opportunity to work from anywhere, job seekers would take a pay cut (50%), increase their working hours (20%), and give up vacation days (15%).

In terms of gender, there is a higher percentage of men who work from home than women. These figures suggest a gender gap in remote work, highlighting the need for more inclusive remote work policies to ensure equal opportunities. The lack of evidence regarding an average relationship between WFH and well-being should not be mistaken, however, as evidence that WFH and well-being are per se unrelated. Our study focused on the overall, dynamic association between WFH and two indicators of well-being, and our analyses do not provide any insight about moderating factors or mediating processes. WFH may well be related to well-being under particular conditions or for particular persons.

Some remote workers work more

In just 6 months in 2020, more than 9 billion hours were estimated to have been saved by workers not having to commute to the office. Workers on the whole end up spending more time working, taking less time off when they go remote – the direct opposite of the pessimistic view that staff are going to slack off when not at the office. The statistics indicate quite strongly that productivity actually increases when staff are able to work from home. More organizations, from a wider range of sectors, are choosing to ditch the traditional office environment and let their staff choose where they want to work. Most Gen Zers thrive best in situations when they are left to discover things on their own and solve things with their own initiative. Thus, a remote work setting works perfectly for them because it helps preserve that individuality in the workplace, while also enabling the kind of collaboration that they’re comfortable having.

• This communication breakdown often leads to frustration and discouragement, causing 38% of candidates to withdraw or consider withdrawing from hiring processes.
• Many companies that initially embraced remote work are now refining their hybrid strategies to make them sustainable in the long run.
• For example, the Wave 0 WFH measure was based on the average months working mostly from home between February through April 2020; the Wave 1 WFH measure was based on the average months working mostly from home in May and June 2020.
• Hybrid models and remote work guidelines are key to managing remote employees effectively.
• Click on any of the company names below to view a detailed, researched profile of each business, prepared by the Virtual Vocations team.

Technology providers are continuing to innovate to address remote work challenges, with AI-driven collaboration tools and next-gen virtual workspaces playing a key role. Additionally, AI and data analytics are becoming vital in optimising remote work. Companies are now using AI to manage scheduling, track productivity, and gather real-time feedback. Forrester Research reports that businesses using AI to manage remote workforces see a 25% improvement in task completion rates and a 30% reduction in project delays. The US, in particular, is investing heavily in AI-driven tools, with 65% of companies leveraging AI to optimise remote work, a trend also gaining momentum in tech-heavy markets like Singapore and Australia.

• Businesses are adopting practices like multi-factor authentication, endpoint security, and cloud-based encryption tools to keep sensitive data secure.
• With the evolution of digital tools and changing work norms, remote work is no longer a niche concept but a growing trend spanning various fields.
• And if you wanted to get specific on location, “metros with a higher cost of living tend to be more flexible,” the report says.
• Workers love the ability to choose where to work, when to work… and what to wear to work.
• Some organisations have adopted hybrid models where employees split their time between home and the office, while others allow employees to choose their in-office days while ensuring core collaboration remains intact.

Organizing work hours around personal responsibilities and preferences is a significant advantage, improving work-life balance and job satisfaction. Embracing remote work comes with its own benefits and challenges, impacting employees and employers in various ways. Understanding these aspects can help in creating effective strategies for managing remote work.

With less churn in the labor market, qualified candidate pools can shrink, adding time to recruitment cycles and putting pressure on employers to widen their search. Remote and hybrid workers can provide a bridge between a less dynamic labor market and the talent required to grow a company. The fourth wave of the G-SWA has been fielded in 40 countries from November 2024 to February 2025 (see Appendix Table 1). The first subsample consists of adults aged 20 to 64, while the second is restricted to full- time working adults aged 20 to 64 who have completed at least secondary education. In France, Germany, Italy, the UK and the US, total sample sizes amount to more than 2,500 respondents, respectively.

A surprising 32% of hybrid workers state they would consider a pay cut to work remotely full-time 14. This reflects the high value workers place on the flexibility and autonomy remote work provides and could potentially impact how companies structure compensation in the future. Since the pandemic, the remote work trend has accelerated dramatically, with nearly 40 years’ worth of growth in remote work arrangements packed into just a few years.

Best Employer of Record (EOR) Service Companies

At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, two thirds of the US workforce worked remotely. That number has dropped as pandemic restrictions lessened, yet at the end of 2020, 41.8% of employees in the US remained in WFH. So, if you’re recruiting remote workers in 2024, what do you need to keep in mind?

So, what does the future of remote work look like?

As hybrid work becomes more common, meetings often involve both in-office and remote participants. 40% of office interactions now include remote workers, which can make coordination tricky. According to Zoom, 75% of employees think their current tools need improvement, and 72% believe their companies need new tools altogether to support remote working properly.

Remote workers tend to work with a lot of clients and customers, requiring that they have specific training that goes beyond high school. Remote work has environmental benefits by reducing traffic congestion, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, significantly decreasing urban NO2 concentrations and overall energy consumption. These policies serve to uphold trust and transparency, while also endorsing a flexible work environment.

We reviewed key remote work statistics that can help your business decide if remote work is right for you. Remote work opens doors to learning remote work stats 2024 new skills and achieving higher pay, with 74% and 71% of remote workers defining these as career growth factors, respectively. 32% of hybrid workers are willing to consider taking a pay cut in exchange for the opportunity to work remotely full-time. This indicates a strong preference for remote work among certain professionals..

In 2024, 60% of executives reported that flexible work models have positively influenced their company’s culture. Remote employees often express greater job satisfaction due to their autonomy and control over their schedules. However, a minority of 12% feel that working remotely has detracted from their work-life balance, highlighting the diverse experiences of remote workers and the need for ongoing monitoring and flexibility to maximize worker attitudes. Another thing to bear in mind is that with the rise in structured hybrid models, there should be greater emphasis on clear communication regarding expectations and limitations from both employers and employees.

Considering the average remote worker saves 72 minutes of commuting time every day, this flexibility is a major plus. It’s also spurred on relocation, with many people moving to quieter towns with lower costs of living and increased quality of life. Seventy-five percent of respondents were already familiar with AI tools, with half using them to create or edit career documents such as resumes and cover letters. Even among those without prior AI experience, 68% said they are open to utilizing AI tools like ChatGPT for job applications. This indicates a growing acceptance of AI’s role in enhancing job search efficiency and communication.

Stay Ahead in the Future of Work

• Embracing remote work comes with its own set of benefits and challenges, impacting both employees and employers in various ways.
• In expensive cities (the LendingTree study looked at the top 100), the costs of public transportation, gas, tolls, and parking can easily reach into the thousands of dollars per year.
• We learned that remote work’s universal appeal plays a critical role in addressing jobseekers’ needs for flexibility, balance, and financial stability.
• As we navigate the ever-evolving world of post-pandemic work in 2023, several key remote work statistics stand out.

However, WFH was positively related to psychological distress during the second COVID-19 lockdown in November 2020. Longitudinally, however, participants who switched from office work to WFH between April to December 2020 decreased in anxiety. Together, existing longitudinal findings illustrate the importance of a dynamic approach to investigations of WFH and well-being 22, 32. In 2024, remote working remains the norm for many global, forward-thinking businesses.

A WFH policy is considered a benefit

Yet, it is important to acknowledge that stress levels can rise for some remote workers, and supportive work environments are key to mitigating this. Notably, the younger demographics, 61% of Gen Z and 55% of millennials, spearheading the shift towards hybrid or remote work models. Flexibility is so appealing that 62% of employees are open to accepting a lower salary. In this setting, the specific hours, days, or percentage of time you’d spend at home versus the office are made clear by your employer or are pre-agreed upon.

Research shows that employers can save $11,000 per employee when switching to remote work

Read on to learn more about remote work, through real and fascinating statistics. Recruiters, project managers, technical writers, product marketing managers, customer success managers, and graphic designers are also prominently featured on the list of remote roles. The wide variety of these roles signifies the expanding scope of remote work across different fields. Sign up to receive more well-researched small business articles and topics in your inbox, personalized for you. Employees with advanced degrees (those with a bachelor’s degree or higher) are more likely to find and retain remote work.

We want to provide announcements, events, leadership messages and resources that are relevant to you. Your selection is stored in a browser cookie which you can remove at any time using “Clear all personalization” below. Both of these groups are likely to bypass or postpone a “solid” lifestyle, or accumulating material goods and settling down, according to research published in Harvard Business Review. Instead, many seek to embrace flexibility and uncertainty, making themselves more “liquid,” or adaptable to change. Businesses are also seeing real and valuable benefits from letting staff go remote.

In the U.S., nearly half of jobseekers earn less than $60,000 annually, while 68% of international participants earn under $30,000. Many jobseekers have set income targets to improve financial stability, with 30% of U.S. jobseekers aiming for $60,000–$89,999 and another 30% targeting at least $120,000. Internationally, 38% of jobseekers seek $30,000–$59,999, and 32% aim for $60,000–$89,999. As we continue to adapt to this new work landscape, understanding these trends will be crucial in shaping effective remote work policies and practices. Surveys and studies offer revealing insights into workers’ preferences and how remote work impacts their lives.

Average Remote Salaries In The US In 2024

So far, findings have been mixed and based predominantly on cross-sectional analyses. A new prototype device demonstrates an innovative approach to producing ammonia – a key component of fertilizer – that could transform an industry responsible for about one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Other caregivers include those who provide support to older parents, siblings, or people outside the family.

The top industry for remote workers in 2025 is Computer and IT

Additionally, senior-level employees are more likely to work from home than their junior counterparts, possibly leading to disparities in visibility and recognition. This table and the chart highlight the industries that smoothly merged into the new work culture. The tech industry leads the way, followed by finance and professional services. Initially, it was limited to specific roles and industries where remote work stats 2024 physical presence was not crucial.

• The insights we’ve explored showcase a robust and adaptive workforce that increasingly embraces the autonomy and opportunities presented by remote work while navigating its challenges.
• Prior to joining Kumospace, he spent his career founding and operating businesses.
• Remote workers enjoy higher average earnings, approximately $19,000 more annually than their office-bound counterparts.
• Virtual Vocations, Inc., founded in 2007, is a private, family-owned, and 100% distributed company.
• The future of remote work will be shaped by a combination of employee expectations, technological advancements, and business priorities.

Understanding these trends will be crucial in shaping effective remote work policies and practices as we continue to adapt to this new work landscape. As remote work becomes more prevalent, it’s important to understand workers’ sentiments towards this evolving model. Surveys and studies offer insights into workers’ preferences and how remote work impacts their lives. Understanding these trends helps us predict the direction remote work will take.

These articles offer industry insights through jobseeker surveys, statistical analyses, and company rankings. Additionally, we produce dozens of free blog posts annually, which are packed with advice and strategies on optimizing your remote job search, enhancing your profile as a remote candidate, and excelling in a virtual work environment. Explore the titles below to expand your remote work expertise and discover more of our in-depth content.

Despite many experts and employers anticipating—or hoping—these trends would change post-pandemic, they haven’t. Remote work is sticking around, and workers have made it clear they don’t want to be in an office all day, every day. Using data as a guide, your small business can adapt to the changing work environment and stand out to potential employees while retaining—or increasing—your company’s productivity. As we navigate the evolving remote work landscape of 2024, it’s clear that the future of work is not tethered to a single location but is, instead a dynamic blend of remote, hybrid, and traditional office settings.

Some employees find working from home find it easier to focus, while others report better focus when working in the office. However, the flexibility of working from home creates a better work-life balance, which is highly sought after in today’s workforce. In a survey of millennials, Gen X, and boomers, millennials were most willing to sacrifice traditional job requirements (like top pay, 40-hour workweeks, and robust PTO) to work a remote job. This doesn’t mean you should decrease pay for remote workers, but it means they are dedicated to finding remote opportunities.

This move is about balancing flexibility with productivity and fostering collaboration. Hybrid work models now include things like fixed in-office days, team-specific setups, and clear expectations around in-person collaboration. Remote workers report higher job satisfaction levels compared to in-office employees, largely due to the flexibility and autonomy remote work offers. Most remote workers prefer the convenience of working from home, avoiding commute time, and traffic regularly.