4 surprising remote work statistics you need to know

It’s no secret that remote work is gaining popularity. With increased flexibility, reduced maintenance costs and facility overhead, and the ability to hire workers from around the globe, companies are continuing remote work policies. 

Offering remote work is also a great way to support your team. About 35% of people who are able to work from home are working completely remotely. This is because remote work helps balance their personal lives.

However, the landscape of remote work is constantly changing, and companies need to stay on top of the latest news, statistics, and trends to stay ahead of the game. 

This article explains how remote work is affecting the workplace and breaks down the four most intriguing remote work stats you need to know.

How is remote work affecting the workplace? 

Remote work has brought about a significant transformation in the workplace, with both positive and negative effects. While it increased flexibility and reduced commuting times, it also presented challenges in terms of communication and collaboration. 

Some positive impacts of remote work include:

• Increased productivity: Employees can better manage their time and work in a more comfortable and personalized environment. There are no office distractions, and there’s more room for focused work.

• Greater flexibility: Both employees and managers are able to work from any location around the globe, at any time of the day, as long as they have access to the necessary tools and resources.

• Improved job satisfaction: Employees feel good about their jobs because they have greater autonomy and work-life balance. They also don’t have the stress of commuting to and from work.

Some challenges of remote work include: 

• Social isolation and team cohesion: Remote team members can feel less connected to the workplace and the team. To combat this, employers should find ways to support employees who work from home, for example, through regular face-to-face check-ins.

• Availability of resources: Work-from-home employees need access to adequate space, equipment, and tools to do their job successfully. If a team member is hesitant to work remotely because of their environment, remote employers can easily resolve their concerns. Consider offering your employees access to a co-working space or an allowance to set up a home office.

• Switching off from work: Employees may find it difficult to separate work from their personal life when working remotely. To address this, encourage your team members to take breaks, have a hard stop on work, or have a dedicated workplace that’s solely for work-related activities. As a manager, always be mindful of your team member’s mental health.

Top 4 statistics about remote work you need to know 

Remote work is forever evolving — so it’s crucial to stay up to date with the latest trends to remain competitive and relevant to current employees, new job candidates, and investors. Leverage the latest remote work trends to enhance productivity, employee satisfaction, and overall success.

1. Employees now prefer remote work over in-office 

Remote work is no longer a passing fad, but the preferred way to work for a growing number of employees across the globe. In fact, 61% of people who can work outside the office are choosing to work remotely.

An interesting fact is that younger generations are more in favor of remote work. According to our Remote Workforce Report, 42% of Gen Z would leave their current job for a remote work opportunity, whereas 21% of Boomers say that remote work has no particular benefit.

One reason why employees favor remote work is the high degree of flexibility. Remote work enables employees to perform their job and fulfill personal responsibilities at the same time, without needing to take time off. 

Another reason why employees prefer remote work over in-office work is because of higher productivity and efficiency. Remote work also lowers costs — not only for organizations but also for employees themselves. For instance, remote work eliminates time, costs, and stress commuting to an office.

With proper tools, team members can work seamlessly together remotely, reducing employers' concerns about collaborative work, innovation, and productivity levels. 

As a result, remote work has become a win-win situation for both employees and organizations, as it allows for expanded talent acquisition and reduced maintenance costs. 

However, despite the benefits of remote work and its popularity, not all employers have embraced it. In fact, some companies that allowed remote work during the pandemic are bringing their teams back into the office, at least for a few days a week.

Despite publicly pushing people back to the office, business executives expect both fully remote and hybrid work to continue to grow.

Return-to-office mandates also sparked discontent among employees, showing that remote work is no longer a rarity or novelty. In fact, 77% of Gen Zs and 75% of millennials who are currently in remote or hybrid roles would consider looking for a new job if their employer asked them to work on-site full time. Employees expect remote work, and will negotiate for it. 

2. Greater flexibility is a top advantage of remote work 

Employees say that flexibility is the greatest benefit for remote work. 54% of people who have experienced remote work state that flexibility in creating their schedules and choosing where to live and work were the best benefits of remote work. Similarly, our Remote Tech Talent Report also found that 57% of remote and hybrid employees consider flexibility as an essential benefit of remote work.

Flexibility is beneficial for employers too. For company leaders, remote work allows them to recruit top talent from all over the globe, as they’re no longer limited to hiring locally — or even in the same country as they operate. This opens up a wider pool of candidates and increases the chances of finding the best talent for their company. In fact, our Remote Workforce Report found that 35% of decision makers say that having a flexible workforce allows them to be more competitive in the marketplace. This is because they can serve international locations through a flexible and global workforce.

Motivated by the remote work boom, many companies are now aiming for global expansion. For employees, remote work offers greater flexibility in terms of work hours and location. This empowers employees to manage their work-life balance on their own terms.

Remote work does not only mean working from a coffee shop or home office. Employees have the opportunity to apply for jobs in other countries, expand their skill sets, and work for international companies. 

As this trend toward remote work continues to strengthen, we’ll likely see a rise in the number of digital nomads and location-independent professionals who can work from anywhere in the world. 

Partnering with a global HR platform like Remote can help you unlock new opportunities and expand your business beyond borders. By leveraging Remote’s human resource experts and local lawyers, you can start looking for a remote workforce around the world who can help your business grow and thrive. 

Learn more about how our expert consultants can support your company’s international expansion plan, and discover top talent.

3. Remote employees are more productive 

Businesses lose $600 billion a year to workplace distractions.

By working remotely, employee can focus on deep work and complete tasks more efficiently because they can avoid distractions. In fact, 58% of executives report that remote employees reach goals at a faster rate with fewer errors.  

According to our Remote Workforce Report, 40% of decision makers in a fully remote company see increased productivity as a top benefit of a distributed remote work. 72% of remote employees who work as part of an internationally distributed team say that they are more productive.

One of the arguments used against remote work is that it has a negative impact on productivity levels. The reality is that remote work allows employees to unlock their potential, focus on their goals, and transform their company to efficient organizations. Remote work measurably increases the productivity of employees, leading to greater profits and retention rates for businesses all around the world.  

4. Many jobs can be done remotely 

Approximately 37% of jobs can be done remotely, meaning that many industries have the potential to adopt remote work policies. By 2025, it is estimated that 70% of the workforce will work remotely at least five days a month.  Remote work options are available depending on several key factors. This includes the nature of the work, its level of collaboration and communication, and the availability of supplemental technology. For instance, while general practice (GP) doctors and primary care physicians can convert to remote work through video conferencing technology, other healthcare professionals would not be able to work remotely.

Office-job employees have seen a particular surge in remote work. For example, professionals like lawyers or administrative officers can easily transition from in-office to remote work when they rely on communication and collaboration tools. 

This is beneficial for employers looking for top talent and a solution to reduce operational costs. By allowing employees to work entirely remotely, companies can save money on office space, utilities, and other overhead costs. In fact, nearly 60% of employers identify cost savings as a significant benefit of remote work.

Further, organizations who are only looking into domestic markets for tech talent are failing to tap into top tech talent hubs around the world. Surprisingly, our Remote Tech Talent Report found that only 26% of HR professionals are sourcing skills internationally.

38% of employers are reluctant to hire a remote international workforce because of local legal requirements. However, a global HR partner like Remote can help organizations hire top talent from all over the world.

Use remote work statistics to help your business thrive 

Remote work breaks down geographical barriers that allows companies to find the best talent in the world.

Similarly, with flexible work options, employees are no longer restricted to their local area or even their country when it comes to finding a role that fits their unique needs and skills. 

Considering the benefits of remote work and how rapidly it’s changing our lifestyle, it’s crucial for businesses to have a comprehensive understanding of the current workforce climate and what remote employees seek in a job. 

To discover more remote work statistics you need to know and how a global HR partner like Remote can help your remote business grow, check out our Remote Workforce Report.

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