Remote work statistics to keep in mind in 2024
Remote employees often express greater job satisfaction due to their autonomy and control over their schedules. On top of this, while assessing job seekers, use remote, full-funnel hiring tools, such as Toggl Hire, to make the process easier and more efficient. That way, you’ll ensure you only hire the best remote candidates who can actually do the job! 73% of employees and 78% of business decision-makers articulated the need for better reasons to return to the office beyond company expectations. In the future, remote workers will have extra days per year to accomplish other things thanks to the reduction in daily commuting.
Loss of control by management
The transfer of tacit knowledge, often learned by observing experienced colleagues, can be more difficult in remote settings where unplanned interactions are less frequent. Remote workers may have the opportunity to relocate to another city or state for potential job opportunities and or lower cost of living. A 2020 survey found that 2.4% of people or 4.9 million Americans say they have moved because of remote work in 2020. A 2021 employee survey reports preferring a more flexible working model. During the COVID-19 pandemic the working model showed the amount of employees who are working fully on site is 62%, with 30% hybrid and 8% remote. Post COVID-19 pandemic working models changed with the amount of employees who were fully on site at 37%, with 52% hybrid and 11% remote.
Okay, so we’ve covered who’s working remotely and where they’re working. They are even fields that we normally think of as office jobs like accounting and finance. Do people with different education levels work remotely at different rates? But before we get too deep into the why, I kind of want to know who these remote workers are. ZipRecruiter also confirmed that the highest annual remote salaries were around $84,500, while the lowest was around $12,000. However, most remote jobs pay between $40,000 and $79,500, depending on seniority and requirements.
Remote work improves efficiency by reducing or eliminating employees commute time, thus increasing their availability to work. In addition, remote work also helps employees achieve a better work-life balance. Providing the option to work remotely or adopting a hybrid work schedule has been an incentivizing benefit companies used in new hiring. A June 2023 survey of 2,000 full-time workers found that 6% of working arrangements were fully remote, 46% were hybrid, and 48% were fully onsite.
- These include job and hiring trends, employee wellbeing and productivity, multi-generational workforces, and the future of work, among others.
- This type of communication is very difficult in remote locations, mostly because technology does not support rapid back and forth conversations or awareness and repair of ambiguity.
- Interestingly, just over one-third of U.S. workers who have the capability to work remotely opt to do so on a full-time basis.
- Organizations may encounter challenges when shifting to remote work models, particularly where traditional management practices rely on direct observation rather than results-based evaluation.
- Other valued benefits include opportunities for skill enhancement and cost savings through employee discounts, emphasizing a workforce that values both professional growth and economic incentives.
Workers with higher qualifications are more likely to hybrid work
Based on these statistics, it’s evident that remote and hybrid work will be a major part of the future, and it remains the preferred option for the majority of employees in the US and beyond. Whereas in-person meetings tend to be time-consuming and stressful, 70% of remote workers say virtual meetings are less stressful, and 67% believe these often shorter sessions are as productive as in-person meetings. They also break down geographical boundaries, creating greater diversity and inclusion. Without the right tools, remote and hybrid work wouldn’t be possible. SaaS is one of the tools that makes it possible for employees to do everything from work on projects together to host video conferences and virtual meetings. Those working remotely also save money, with hybrid workers spending $15 a day compared to in-office workers spending $51 a day.
It’s evident that some industries and job roles are more geared towards remote work than others. Understanding these trends helps us predict the direction remote work will take in the future. According to Upwork, by 2025, an estimated 32.6 million Americans will be working remotely, which equates to about 22% of the workforce . This projection suggests a continuous, yet gradual, shift towards remote work arrangements. As we navigate through the ever-evolving world of post-pandemic work in 2024, several key remote work statistics stand out.
By understanding remote workers statistics, leveraging the right tools, and partnering with trusted platforms like OpsArmy, you can build a lean, efficient team capable of powering your startup’s long-term success. Remote employees report better work-life balance, leading to higher job satisfaction and lower turnover. For startups, retaining talent means fewer hiring cycles and more continuity in execution. Each year, Virtual Vocations publishes several annual reports on the state of remote work in the U.S. These articles offer industry insights through jobseeker surveys, statistical analyses, and company rankings. Explore the titles below to expand your remote work expertise and discover more of our in-depth content.
Increased motivation and job satisfaction
Looking ahead, 42% of active freelancers plan to continue freelancing indefinitely, expressing a strong preference for this model over traditional employment. These findings speak to the increasing importance of work-life balance and self-determination in shaping career decisions. At Virtual Vocations, we are committed to supporting freelancers through quality remote opportunities and essential resources. Key survey findings showed that two-thirds of participants have direct remote work stats 2024 freelancing experience, with 73% of current and former freelancers rating their work-life balance as six or higher on a 10-point scale. This contrasts with only 58% of non-freelancers feeling similarly satisfied, emphasizing freelancing’s role in achieving better work-life balance.
Distance work in the future
JobsReach, the premier career service for remote and hybrid work, has released the 2024 Report. The report reveals that a significant majority of people prefer either fully remote (51%) or hybrid (46%) job setups, and it delves into the latest data, statistics, and insights regarding the current state of remote work. When looking at the average salaries of remote employees in the US, ZipRecruiter reported that in July 2024, remote workers were taking home an average of $61,178 per year. This works out to $29.41 an hour, over four times the current average minimum wage.
- Remote and hybrid work has also proven less stressful, with 59% of full-time office workers saying their stress levels increased in the past year.
- Unless otherwise noted, this page’s content was written by either an employee or a paid contractor of Semrush Inc.
- Sharing information among teams can also present challenges when working remotely.
- JobsReach estimates that remote workers save, on average, $6,000 or more annually, while employers can save up to $11,000 per remote employee.
Remote work in 2024: More than just a better work-life balance
You’re no longer limited by your city or state—international employees are just a Zoom call away. In the European Union, over 25 million people now work remotely. Asia-Pacific regions, particularly the Philippines and India, have also seen rapid remote work expansion thanks to digital outsourcing and virtual assistant roles. The global shift to remote work has transformed how businesses operate. What once seemed like a temporary response to the pandemic is now a permanent fixture in the modern workforce. For startups navigating tight budgets and the need to scale quickly, understanding current remote workers statistics isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
Without the stress of commuting, productivity gets a boost, and burnout is easier to avoid. 2020 forced entire industries to unexpectedly embrace remote work with minimal notice and preparation time. However, as the world returned somewhat to normal, hybrid work models were introduced, with employees splitting their time between in-office and remote work. Well, based on the data, it seems like the number one reason is flexibility. Like 71% of remote workers say it helps them have a better work life balance. JobsReach estimates that remote workers save, on average, $6,000 or more annually, while employers can save up to $11,000 per remote employee.
Like, for example, the age group that’s really leading the way and embracing remote work is the 24 to 35 year-old. So, it’s pretty safe to say most people want at least a little flexibility. And I’m guessing that doesn’t even include the people who are doing some kind of hybrid schedule, right? It’s wild how much value people are placing on things like flexibility.
Working from home is no longer something a few privileged people do. Then you’re in luck because we’re concluding our list of 50 remote work statistics with even more eye-opening facts about working from home. Keep reading to see how many Americans are estimated to work remotely by 2025, and what the term “coffee badging” means for hybrid workers. In this section, we explore the demographics of remote work to see which Americans have embraced the work from home life. You may be surprised to learn which generation is least likely to apply for work from home roles, or where the most remote workers in the U.S. reside. One of the main benefits of remote work, as reported by workers, is flexible hours .
The Future of Work Belongs to Those with Agency and Ambition
To be sure, Fridays have always been a little different than other weekdays. Many bosses allowed their staff to dress more casually on Fridays and permitted people to depart early, long before the pandemic began. But the ability to work remotely has evidently amplified that tendency. Close to half (45%) of those in more senior occupations (shown in the chart below as ‘managers, directors and senior officials’) followed a hybrid working model, compared with 27% of all workers. That compares with just 3% of people in ‘elementary occupations’, such as working on the shop floor in retail or cleaning services, and 3% of people working in ‘caring, leisure and other services’. Our data did not consider people who have other unpaid care responsibilities, such as caring for an elderly relative or another adult.
Key concepts
Consider time zone differences and set up a communication schedule that works for everyone. Of the workers, seemingly 98% wish to continue their work-from-home option. As the option creates more balance between personal and professional life, skilled workers prefer to stay at home and produce amazing results. In this blog, we will show you tips and the best practices that help in remote team management strategies and keynotes. Organizations may encounter challenges when shifting to remote work models, particularly where traditional management practices rely on direct observation rather than results-based evaluation. This reliance can present obstacles to effective remote management.
Startups, especially in early stages, must proactively manage these challenges to maintain efficiency and productivity. Remote teams in these regions often have strong familiarity with Western business culture, helping with seamless onboarding and communication. These roles are easier than ever to fill remotely, offering top-tier talent at startup-friendly rates.