60 Distant Work Stats to Know in 2024

My first advertising job was as a contract author for an company on the alternative aspect of the world. This additionally occurred to be my first “actual” job and, consequently, my first expertise of distant work.

Since then, I’ve labored with a number of different corporations throughout a number of time zones and, consequently, skilled the whole lot distant work has to supply — from the challenges of establishing a house workplace to the thrill of location independence.

However extra importantly, I’ve additionally gotten to consciously observe the expansion and affect of distant work over time.

On this put up, I’ll be sharing 60 statistics that can assist you perceive the evolution, alternatives, and challenges this distinctive mode of labor affords.

Every part is designed to offer extra than simply statistics and as an alternative give you a cohesive, research-backed narrative on every sub-topic.

Desk of Contents

The Introduction and Evolution of Distant Work

• In line with Hubspot, probably the most widespread work mannequin at present is a hybrid mannequin, which is most well-liked by 41% of workers. That is adopted by the totally distant work mannequin (32%), and, lastly, on-site work (27%). Nonetheless, curiously, earlier than 2020, most workers had totally on-site jobs with no speedy plans to change to various fashions. So, what modified?
• The 2020 lockdown mandated a whole shift to distant work throughout most industries, introducing many to distant work for the primary time. Consequently, an Owl Labs survey discovered that this expertise led to 70% of workers wanting to keep up a hybrid or distant working association even post-pandemic.
• By 2021, an Accenture examine discovered that 83% of worldwide staff seen this hybrid mannequin of labor (a mixture of distant and on-site work) as ideally suited.
• As time went on, employee preferences saved evolving. A 2022 examine discovered that the most well-liked working kinds shifted a bit from the earlier yr. Distant work was favored by 34% in 2021 however dropped to 29% in 2022. Hybrid work went from 31% to 36%, and in-office work went from 29% to 22%.

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• Breaking it down by gender, girls appeared to favor distant work extra (46%) over males (39%). Then again, in-office work appeared extra interesting to males, with 24% preferring it in comparison with 19% of ladies.
• This examine additionally discovered that round 29% of staff modified jobs, with distant staff being twice as possible (37%) to change in comparison with these working in an workplace (21%). The highest causes for altering jobs have been higher pay (84%), higher profession alternatives (82%), and higher work/life stability (78%).
• However what was much more fascinating was that in line with contributors within the examine, if the choice to work remotely of their present jobs was taken away, 66% mentioned they might begin in search of a job that provided extra flexibility, whereas 39% mentioned they might merely give up.
• Equally, one other 2022 survey discovered that 63% of staff would select a greater work-life stability over higher pay.
• And these sentiments weren’t short-term. A 2022 examine by Buffer discovered that 98% of respondents needed to work remotely in some capability for the remainder of their careers.
• Equally, one other examine discovered that 88% of staff thought-about hybrid work as a number one profit they’d anticipate in a brand new job.
• Distant work choices have been so positively obtained that only one% of contributors in a examine by Buffer reported having a damaging expertise with distant work.
• Moreover, the examine additionally discovered that 98% of distant staff would advocate distant work to others.

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• Research proceed to persistently present that many staff favor a distant or hybrid association over on-site work. For example, Atlassian’s State of Work examine confirmed a notable shift within the preferences of distant, office-only, and hybrid staff between 2021 and 2022: 22% in 2022 versus 34% in 2021, 35% in 2022 versus 39% in 2021, and 43% in 2022 versus 27% in 2021, respectively.
• General, the hybrid mannequin of distant work seems to be the comfortable medium between staff and employers, with 45.5% of distant staff having hybrid preparations in comparison with 20.5% who work totally from dwelling, in line with a January 2023 survey.

• Earlier than the 2020 shutdown, simply 8% of corporations had versatile office insurance policies.
• By 2021, practically two-thirds (62%) had carried out some stage of versatile work. Mid-size corporations (501-5,000 workers) particularly, have been notably proactive, with 70% implementing versatile work insurance policies.
• Nonetheless, employer sentiments towards distant work continued to evolve. That very same yr, a report by OwlLabs discovered that 73% of those that labored from dwelling in the course of the pandemic finally returned to the workplace at the very least sooner or later per week.
• In actuality, whereas 74% of corporations promised some stage of flexibility in work schedules on the time, 82% have been additionally planning a return to pre-pandemic work schedules after the lockdown.
• By 2022, the State of Distant Work report discovered that solely 31% of employers have been providing totally distant working choices, with 41% of small corporations (10-50 workers) requiring workers to return to the workplace.
• So, the place precisely does that go away us at present? It actually will depend on who you ask. On one hand, 58% of contributors in a McKinsey survey reported having the chance to do business from home at the very least sooner or later per week.

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• Then again, a number of research have discovered that distant work is the exception and never the norm. In line with a examine by Accenture, as of 2022, 36% of staff worldwide had returned to a totally on-site work mannequin throughout all industries.
• One other survey by Atlassian additionally revealed that 82% of all data staff had some type of “in-office mandate,” whereas 25% of staff who supposedly had the selection to work remotely nonetheless felt stress to enter the workplace.
• Lastly, a 2022 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey discovered that solely 27.5% of personal sector companies (2.5 million) had workers teleworking all or a number of the time.
• So, how can we interpret this seemingly conflicting knowledge? Nicely, all views could have benefit. By analyzing every trade individually relatively than collectively, the info aligns higher.
• The identical examine by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics discovered that skilled and enterprise providers, instructional providers, and wholesale commerce boasted the very best proportion of teleworkers at 67.4%, 49%, 46%, and 39%, respectively. This means that distant work alternatives are merely extra prevalent in sure industries, and examine outcomes will typically differ relying on the trade surveyed.

• For a lot of staff, the attraction of distant work lies in its flexibility. In line with Hubspot’s Hybrid Work Report, 90% of workers are coping with some stage of burnout and imagine that flexibility, particularly in taking time without work, might considerably scale back their stress ranges.
• However flexibility is not nearly if you work. In line with findings from a Buffer examine, the most important distant work advantages for staff embody having the ability to handle their time (22%), select the place they reside (19%), and determine the place they work (13%).

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• Atlassian’s analysis gives additional perception, displaying that the first purpose US data staff favor distant work is that they’re merely happier working from dwelling (47%).
• However past happiness and suppleness, distant staff additionally report greater productiveness ranges. In line with a examine by Owl Labs, a big majority (62%) of staff really feel extra productive when working remotely, in comparison with simply 11% who really feel much less productive.
• A Buffer examine additionally discovered that 70% of staff discover it simpler to focus, 65% handle stress higher, and 50% keep away from distractions higher when working remotely.
• Lastly, whereas the workplace is seen as the best setting for sure actions, corresponding to assembly new individuals (59%), managing others (51%), and staff conferences (51%), staff are cut up on the place they like to innovate and brainstorm. Some thrive within the workplace (39%), whereas others appear to seek out their stream higher at dwelling (37%).

• Distant work, whether or not totally distant or hybrid, typically incurs bills that aren’t sometimes related to conventional work fashions. In line with findings from Buffer’s State of Distant Work Report, 64% of workers indicated that their corporations paid for {hardware} corresponding to screens, whereas 40% reported that their corporations coated prices related to dwelling workplace gear.
• Curiously, dwelling web, which is arguably probably the most essential distant work instrument, is solely coated by 28% of corporations.
• One other extra distant working value corporations typically need to cowl is coworking memberships. 22% of respondents within the Buffer survey indicated that their corporations cowl their memberships, whereas 38% expressed a need for his or her corporations to take action.
• Now, apart from worker bills, companies additionally want to contemplate how distant work would possibly have an effect on profitability. For instance, HubSpot’s 2024 State of Gross sales Report revealed that 46% of salespeople understand promoting remotely as much less efficient than in-person gross sales.

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• So, what does this imply? Is distant work merely an added expense with no actual advantages to the underside line? Quite the opposite, distant work additionally affords main monetary advantages. In line with a examine by IWG, greater than four-fifths of Chief Monetary Officers (CFOs) (82%) imagine that distant work, particularly in a hybrid format, is a less expensive enterprise mannequin in comparison with conventional workplace setups.
• This line of pondering is supported by findings from World Office Analytics, which means that hybrid working preparations can save organizations greater than $11,000 per worker yearly on common.
• However how precisely does distant work ship value financial savings for corporations? Firstly, there’s the potential for substantial financial savings on workplace lease. The IWG examine discovered that two-thirds (65%) of CFOs goal to scale back facility spending by greater than 10% per yr.
• Equally, one other examine discovered that 60% of U.S. executives plan to scale back workplace house by as much as half or extra.
• The rationale behind these cost-saving measures is obvious. By eliminating or considerably decreasing workplace house necessities, corporations can keep away from committing to costly, long-term leases, regulate their house necessities as wanted, and luxuriate in big value financial savings. For example, Cisco’s adoption of hybrid working practices has resulted in financial savings of $500 million over the previous 5 years.
• However there’s extra to it than simply saving on workplace prices. Employee prices alone reveal an fascinating development. An Owl Labs examine discovered that greater than half of all staff (52%) can be prepared to just accept a pay minimize of 5% or extra in alternate for the pliability to decide on their working location. In reality, 23% indicated they might settle for a pay minimize of 10% or extra for this profit.
• Conversely, if staff have been now not allowed to work remotely or in a hybrid setup, 67% would anticipate a pay enhance to cowl extra commuting bills.
• Lastly, past value issues, latest analysis carried out by IWG and Arup revealed that hybrid working has the potential to scale back city carbon emissions by 70% within the UK and as much as 87% within the U.S.. These findings recommend that the environmental affect of totally distant work could possibly be substantial for companies that select to undertake distant work fashions.

• In line with a latest HubSpot survey, the primary ache level for corporations within the distant work period is disconnected programs. Particularly, the survey discovered that the highest drawback for distant corporations appears to be difficulties with communication and collaboration between groups.
• However why is that this an issue? One potential purpose could possibly be how distributed groups are these days. For instance, Buffer’s State of Distant Work survey discovered that 74% of respondents labored in corporations that function throughout a number of time zones. Moreover, over half of the distant staff (62%) in that examine reported having individuals of their speedy groups distributed throughout a number of time zones.

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• This distributed setup impacts how distant groups collaborate. At present, collaboration primarily happens by way of messaging apps (50%), emails (22%), and conferences (19%), with video calls being the most typical for conferences. Curiously, solely about one-third (36%) of employers have upgraded their video assembly expertise since 2020.
• For digital conferences particularly, a Buffer examine discovered that when taking conferences, most distant staff favor to be on digital camera. When requested why, 67% of contributors felt it was simpler to speak after they might see somebody’s expression.
• That mentioned, not all conferences are seen favorably by distant staff. A examine by HubSpot revealed that 70% of workers discover too many calls and conferences disruptive to their focus. Moreover, 58% really feel that at the very least half of the conferences they attend might have been dealt with by way of emails as an alternative.
• Furthermore, the identical examine additionally discovered that e-mail was the popular communication platform for a majority of respondents (39%) when requested to decide on one platform for the upcoming yr.
• On the aspect of the organizations, a number of research have proven that employers are additionally taking measures to make sure seamless collaboration amongst distant groups. A 2022 examine discovered that roughly half (50%) of employers have supplied coaching to managers on managing distant and hybrid groups.
• Equally, a HubSpot examine discovered that 32% of workers who participated of their Hybrid Work survey had obtained tips on utilizing unified communication and collaboration instruments. Moreover, 54% had obtained coaching on conducting efficient and inclusive hybrid conferences.
• Lastly, a latest examine additionally discovered that 37% of employers have added or elevated using worker monitoring software program, indicating a rising development in the direction of more practical monitoring and administration of distant groups.

• Whereas distant work affords many advantages, it additionally presents a number of challenges. For some distant staff, the wrestle lies in the isolation of staying dwelling too typically. One examine discovered that one in three distant staff reported this as their greatest problem, with loneliness following intently behind at 23%.
• A 2022 Hubspot survey additionally discovered that 40% of distant staff reportedly miss spontaneous, in-person connections with their colleagues,

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• There’s additionally the truth that not each worker thrives in a distant setting. A latest examine discovered that almost half of U.S. staff really feel their groups don’t operate successfully in a hybrid setting.
• Whereas this might possible be attributed to a number of causes, a 2022 examine discovered that 77% of distant staff who felt much less productive attributed this to elevated distractions at dwelling, which is comprehensible contemplating that 45% of distant staff make the most of multi-purpose areas, corresponding to bedrooms or kitchens, for work.
• Separating work and private life may also be tough in a distant setting. In a single examine, 81% of distant staff admitted to checking work emails outdoors of workplace hours, with 63% doing so on weekends and 34% whereas on trip. Furthermore, 48% typically labored past conventional hours, with 44% reporting elevated work hours in comparison with the earlier yr.
• One other examine additionally discovered that almost half (45%) of staff report a rise in work-related stress over the previous yr.
• Lastly, one other main problem for distant work adoption appears to be office perceptions. One examine discovered that 49% of staff really feel that managers view in-office workers as more durable working and extra reliable than distant counterparts.
• Equally, one other examine discovered that 10% of workers concern being perceived as much less productive or dedicated in the event that they work remotely.

Navigating The Distant Work Panorama

Whereas distant work presents new and distinctive challenges, with the precise strategy and understanding, it could result in extra productive and satisfying working preparations for each workers and employers.

Whether or not you‘re contemplating your first distant position or hiring distant staff members, it’s necessary to maintain the stats above in thoughts because the world continues to evolve and embrace flexibility.