The work landscape has changed dramatically and permanently in just a few years. So too has the perception and acceptance of remote work, as the benefits for employers and employees alike have come to light.
Having a choice of work environment and location is now a key factor for many job seekers when searching for a better balance between work and life, as well as evaluating new career opportunities.
Just how much has remote work impacted and changed the future of work? Here are some intriguing remote work statistics that offer a by-the-numbers look at where things stand.
Key Remote Work Statistics
The massive transition to remote work since 2020 has allowed professionals and companies to discover and embrace the benefits of remote work and, as a result, companies are adopting hybrid and remote work models for the long-term. A Gallup survey found that 8 in 10 people are working hybrid or remote. This trend continues for future predictions, as 8 in 10 CHROs don’t plan on reducing remote work in the next 12 months.
However, Owl Labs found that 67% of managers think it likely that within the next year, their employer will be changing their policies surrounding remote and hybrid work, and this is despite 79% of managers stating that their teams are more productive when working remotely. And these managers may not be wrong. FlexJobs found that 56% of professionals know someone who has or plans to quit due to return-to-office mandates.
Despite physically being at the office full-time not being necessary to produce great results, some companies are pulling back on what 95% of working professionals want—some form of remote work. In fact, 63% choose remote work as the most important aspect of their job, beating out salary (61%), flexible schedules (55%), work-life boundaries (54%), and having a good boss (48%).
Thankfully, many companies have already made the switch to hybrid and remote workplaces, including prominent brands such as Adobe, Salesforce, and Spotify. In fact, more companies across industries are joining long-time remote work advocates—like Automattic, GitLab, Toptal, and Zapier—in adopting permanent remote and hybrid workplaces. Here are the top companies hiring hybrid and remote jobs between November 1, 2022, and October 31, 2023.
Top Companies for 100% Remote Jobs
- CVS Health
- Robert Half International
- UnitedHealth Group
- Kelly
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Randstad
- Kforce
- BCD Travel
- Aston Carter
- Aquent
Top Companies for Hybrid Jobs
- Robert Half International
- Kelly
- LHH – Lee Hecht Harrison
- Creative Financial Staffing – CFS
- Randstad
- New York Life
- Allied Irish Bank – AIB
- Lincoln Financial Group
- Aston Carter
- Elevance Health
1. Remote Work Attracts and Retains Talent
Attracting and retaining talent doesn’t have to be hard for companies—offer remote work! FlexJobs found that 51% of working professionals favor a fully remote job, while 46% prefer a hybrid job.
Offering hybrid and remote work options may benefit companies that want to retain top talent. Gallup found that employers benefit from a larger talent pool, better employee value proposition, and less turnover. And to top it off, their employees make more efficient use of their time, experience less burnout at work, and have more autonomy and better work-life balance.
For employers who are pushing for a return to office, doing so could cause a loss of talent, as more than half of professionals know people who are leaving their jobs due to these mandates.
2. Remote Work Is Good for Business
Research shows that businesses lose $600 billion a year to workplace distractions. Additionally, offering remote work helps reduce attrition and unscheduled absences and increases productivity. In fact, 77% of working professionals state they are more productive working remotely than in a traditional office. More specifically, 80% of Gen Z and Gen X and 76% of millennials state they are more productive working from home than in the office.
High productivity isn’t the only universal benefit of working remotely. Nearly one-third of working professionals think remote and hybrid work positively impacts their career growth, while only one-fifth believe it has a negative impact. Plus, remote and hybrid work creates new employment opportunities for unemployed or underemployed groups.
Global Workplace Analytics also shows that remote work creates a healthier environment for workers to thrive. It reduces the potential for discrimination, increases employee empowerment and collaboration, and allows companies to scale more quickly.
3. Remote Work Leads to Better Mental and Physical Health
For better or worse, the work environment has a direct impact on mental and emotional health. The vast majority of working professionals believe that remote work positively impacts their mental health (93%) and physical health (90%). Additionally, According to FlexJobs’ 2023 Work Insights Survey, 96% of workers believe a remote or hybrid work arrangement would be best for their mental health.
In fact, in a survey with Mental Health America, FlexJobs found that respondents with flexible work options (including remote work) report better mental health than employees without access, who are nearly two times more likely to have poor or very poor mental health. This comes as no surprise, as 71% of remote workers state they are better able to balance their work and personal lives.
With decreased stress levels cited as the top health benefit of remote work by 48% of working professionals, there are a number of additional impacts cited, including:
- Less burnout (36%)
- Healthier food choices (35%)
- Reduced anxiety and depression (34%)
- Improved overall mental health (33%)
- Improved sleep (32%)
- Increased exercise (30%)
- Improved overall physical health (28%)
4. Remote Work Is Good Financial Practice
From skipping lunch out to not having to dry-clean work clothes, remote workers save money. FlexJobs estimates that people who work from home save, on average, $6,000 or more a year. And for employers, they can see up to $11,000 saved for each remote employee.
Respondents to FlexJobs’ Career Survey wanted better work-life balance over higher pay. Additionally, 63% of working professionals are willing to take a pay cut to work remotely, with 17% stating they’d take a 20% decrease in salary. However, that may not be necessary, as remote workers make an average of $19,000 more than their in-office counterparts.
5. Remote Work Is Environmentally Friendly
Due to the human behavioral shifts in 2020, the world saw changes with slowed deforestation rates, reduced air pollution, and improved water quality worldwide.
This positive environmental impact is due, in part, to the millions of people who transitioned to working from home, thereby reducing traffic congestion and air pollution from commuting.
For example, it’s estimated that when 3.9 million employees work from home at least half the time, they reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of taking more than 600,000 cars off the road for an entire year. Over time, the miles and greenhouse gas emissions add up.
Additionally, by making environmentally sound choices—like opting to use less paper and monitoring air-conditioning, heating, and lighting—remote workers can make a positive impact on air quality. In fact, an analysis of different working conditions found that by switching to full-time remote work, a person can reduce their carbon footprint by more than 50%.
6. Remote Work Is More Favorable in Certain Areas
According to research by WalletHub, not all states are considered equal when it comes to working from home, with some having more favorable remote conditions than others.
Based on 12 metrics, Delaware, Utah, Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia came out on top. Some of the data points that helped determine which locations were most suited to remote work include:
- Number of people working from home
- Internet access and cost
- Price of electricity and internet
- Median and average home square footage
7. Remote Work Is Impacting Real Estate
Remote work gives people more options for where they live, reducing the necessity to live near large metropolitan city centers to maximize career potential. And with companies allowing employees to work from home permanently, remote workers are taking advantage of their new location independence.
When asked if they would consider moving should they obtain a permanent remote work arrangement, nearly 65% of respondents in a 2021 FlexJobs Survey said that they would move or that they would think about moving. When asked what factors would most influence a decision to move, the reasons included better quality of life (56%), lower cost of living or housing (45%), and different climate or better weather (35%).
Whether it’s to flee cities with a high cost of living or to find more space to spread out, remote workers are realizing that they have more real estate choices than ever before. And with 16% of companies operating as fully remote, they have a range of options to choose from.
8. Challenges of Remote Work
We would be remiss to not look at remote and hybrid work holistically. While there are many benefits experienced by employers and working professionals, there are challenges that must be addressed and overcome. Some of the biggest challenges include:
- Not getting out often enough (28%)
- Overworking/working more (28%)
- Working across time zones (19%)
- Developing strong relationships at work (19%)
- Troubleshooting technology issues (18%)
- Dealing with non-work distractions (17%)
- Being “invisible” to the boss (16%)
It’s easy to get lost in the remote work world, so it’s important to keep yourself ahead of the challenges you could face.
9. Generational Support of Flexible Work
Flexible work, whether remote or hybrid, is a staple in the workforce, particularly for the up-and-coming generations of workers.
According to FlexJobs’ Generations at Work Report, Gen Z (40%), millennials (56%), and Gen X (75%) are in support of remote and hybrid work options. To further dissect the data, almost half of millennials (45%) and roughly two-thirds of Gen X (62%) said their ideal work arrangement is remote 100% of the time. And while only 22% of Gen Z workers preferred a remote-only arrangement, they heavily support a hybrid environment (73%).
The same survey found that only 11% of Gen Z are working remotely full-time, compared to 27% of millennials and 42% of Gen X. The lack of remote work for Gen Z could be why they feel too much of their identity is tied to their job (88%), while it has less of an impact on millennials (68%) and Gen X (52%).
10. Remote Work Is Here to Stay
Over the past few years, companies have continued to move in the direction of supporting and advocating for remote work. With the Great Resignation came a great reset and realization that working professionals need balance between their work and home lives, or at least to be able to integrate them in a way that works for them. And if that wasn’t realized, professionals were willing to look for a new job.
Over the years, FlexJobs has seen an increase in both remote job postings and hybrid job postings. Specifically, the following career fields have consistently posted high volumes of available remote and hybrid roles and are considered strong prospects for job seekers.
Top Careers for Remote Jobs
- Computer & IT
- Marketing
- Accounting & Finance
- Project Management
- Medical & Health
Top Careers for Hybrid Jobs
- Accounting & Finance
- Administrative
- Project Management
- HR & Recruiting
- Computer & IT
With more opportunities than ever before to find a flexible role, it’s hard to see a future where going into the office full-time becomes the norm again.
Remote Work by the Numbers
Remote work statistics indicate benefits across the board, ranging from improved mental health and better work-life balance to increased productivity and a more positive environmental impact.
For more information about companies offering remote work, check out FlexJobs’ lists of the Top 100 Companies for Remote Jobs and the Top 100 Companies for Hybrid Jobs.
