Remote work was once the “Future of Work”. Yet even a casual glance at current remote work stats shows that the future has become the now and working from home is is the norm for many people. But just in case you needed some proof, we’ve compiled a few remote work statistics.
Younger leaders are embracing remote work
Remote work stats show that the younger workforce is definitely at the forefront of remote and flex work. As the younger generations come to occupy more managerial positions, remote work options for staff are becoming more acceptable.
- 69% of younger managers have team members with remote work options (Source: Upwork)
- Younger managers are 28% more likely to utilize remote workers than Baby Boomers. (Source: Upwork)
- 68% of graduating college students listed remote work as the top benefit in their job search (Source: After College)
Flex work is bridging the gap
Flex work allows traditional businesses a sort of “practice space” for online work. By allowing employees to work remotely just part of the time, companies retain the benefits of both traditional office work and remote work.
- In 2015, 30% of the U.S. workforce had the option to work remotely part time. By 2025, this number is expected to rise to 50% (Source: Flex Summit)
- American Express saw a 43% increase in employee retention by offering flexible work options (Source: Flex Summit)
Remote work is only increasing
Remote work options are now the norm for many companies. Growth in this sector has sped up in recent years and is showing no signs of slowing down. Remote work statistics show remote work options overtaking their in-office counterparts.
- In the next ten years, hiring manager predict that 38% of their permanent, full-time employees will work remotely (Source: Upwork)
- The U.S. freelance workforce is growing 3x faster than the overall U.S. workforce (Source: Fast Company)
Companies are seeing the benefits of remote work
Remote work can save companies a lot of money. While guaranteeing the success of remote work does require several unique investments, remote works stats show that these costs often pale in comparison to traditional office overhead.
- Creative Commons went fully remote with a 25-person team and saved $250,000 (Source: Flex Summit)
- 59% of hiring managers today are using freelance and contract workers, up from just 24% in 2017. This number is predicted to increase by 168% in just the next decade. (Source: Fast Company)
Culture is the key going forward
Remote work is fundamentally different from in-office work, and needs a different approach. Policies and work culture must adjust to accommodate an increasingly remote workforce.
- Asking remote employees to “shut down” after work hours yields as much as a 20% increase in retention (Source: Flex Summit)
- 63% of employers have remote workers, yet most currently lack defined remote work policies