Work From Home Industry Statistics (2023)

Remote work has become increasingly popular in recent years, with a significant increase from 6% to 26.7% of American workers working fully remotely between 2018 and 2021. Despite challenges such as difficulty with collaboration and communication, remote work is expected to continue growing as more employers recognize its benefits.

These work from home statistics might surprise you!

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and digitized, the traditional 9-to-5 office job is no longer the only option for employees. The rise of technology and changing work culture has paved the way for a new trend: remote work.

With this shift, the work from home industry has been growing rapidly. Here are 12 key statistics that highlight the growth and impact of this industry:

Work From Home Industry Statistics

  1. As of 2023, 12.7% of full-time employees work from home, while 28.2% work a hybrid model.
  2. The global work from home population has grown by 140% since 2005.
  3. A majority of remote workers report lower stress levels when working from home, with 82% saying that they feel less stressed.
  4. Full-time remote workers are more likely to be happy in their job than traditional workers, with a 22% higher likelihood of job satisfaction.
  5. On average, remote workers save approximately $4,000 per year on commuting costs.
  6. Companies that allow remote work experience less employee turnover than those that don't, with a reduction of up to 25% in staff turnover rates.
  7. The work from home market is expected to reach a value of $630 billion by 2024.
  8. A vast majority of employees say that allowing for more flexible work arrangements and work from home opportunities would increase employee morale, with 90% agreeing that this is the case.
  9. Remote workers are more likely to feel happy and productive when they are able to get outside during the workday, with a 24% higher likelihood of feeling productive and content.
  10. From 2005 to 2017, there was a significant increase in remote work in the US, with a growth rate of over 150%.
  11. Employers recognize the impact of remote work on retention rates, with around three-quarters (72%) of companies stating that remote work has a high impact on retention.
  12. Remote workers are more likely to feel happy in their job than traditional workers, with a 29% higher likelihood of job satisfaction.

Work From Home Industry Statistics

  • As of 2023, 12.7% of full-time employees work from home, while 28.2% work a hybrid model.
  • By 2025, an estimated 32.6 million Americans will be working remotely, which equates to about 22% of the workforce.
  • A staggering 98% of workers expressed the desire to work remotely, at least part of the time.
  • 93% of employers plan to continue conducting job interviews remotely.
  • About 16% of companies are already fully remote, operating without a physical office.
Source: Remote Work Statistics, Zippia.

Work From Home Trends and Predictions

  • Pre-pandemic, only 6% of American workers were fully remote.
  • From 2018 to 2021, the number of fully remote workers grew 4x larger.
  • In 2021, 26.7% of employees were fully remote, with women and college graduates being the highest demographics of those working from home at 35% and 38%, respectively.
  • Experts predict that there will be 36.2 million Americans working remotely by 2025, which is a 417% increase from pre-pandemic levels.
  • 85% of managers now believe that teams of remote workers will become the new norm.
  • 59% of workers report being more likely to choose an employer that allows remote work rather than one that doesn’t.
  • 74% of workers agree that remote work opportunities make them less likely to leave a company.
  • 81% of workers expect their employer to continue supporting remote work.

Remote Work Preferences: Surveys and Studies

Statistic Percentage Explanation
57% of workers would consider leaving their current job if their employer stopped allowing remote work 57% This figure underscores the value that workers place on the flexibility and autonomy associated with remote work.
35% of remote employees feel more productive when working fully remotely 35% This could be due to reduced commute times, fewer in-person distractions, or the ability to design a work environment that suits their needs.
65% of workers desire to work remotely all the time 65% Highlighting the popularity of this work model. At the same time, 32% prefer a hybrid schedule, which combines the best of both worlds—flexibility from remote work and collaboration opportunities from in-office work.
71% of remote workers stated that remote work helps balance their work and personal life 71% Indicating that remote work seems to be making a positive impact on employee well-being. However, it’s important to acknowledge that 12% reported that it hurts their work-life balance, indicating that remote work may not suit everyone.
  • 57% of workers would consider leaving their current job if their employer stopped allowing remote work. This figure underscores the value that workers place on the flexibility and autonomy associated with remote work.
  • 35% of remote employees feel more productive when working fully remotely, which could be due to reduced commute times, fewer in-person distractions, or the ability to design a work environment that suits their needs.
  • 65% of workers desire to work remotely all the time, highlighting the popularity of this work model. At the same time, 32% prefer a hybrid schedule, which combines the best of both worlds—flexibility from remote work and collaboration opportunities from in-office work.
  • 71% of remote workers stated that remote work helps balance their work and personal life, indicating that remote work seems to be making a positive impact on employee well-being. However, it’s important to acknowledge that 12% reported that it hurts their work-life balance, indicating that remote work may not suit everyone.

Work From Home by Industry and Occupation

  • The top industries with the highest percentage of remote workers are technology (14.9%), finance and insurance (8.4%), and healthcare (7.6%).
  • The top occupations with the highest percentage of remote workers are computer and mathematical (8.3%), business and financial operations (6.9%), and management (6.5%).
  • On the other hand, industries with the lowest percentage of remote workers include construction (1.4%), transportation and warehousing (1.5%), and manufacturing (2.5%).
  • Similarly, occupations with the lowest percentage of remote workers include healthcare support (0.7%), food preparation and serving-related (1.2%), and personal care and service (1.3%).

The Top Industries for Remote Workers in 2023

Rank Industry Expected Growth in Remote Work Positions
1 Computer and IT 20%
2 Marketing 15%
3 Accounting and Finance 10%
4 Project Management 8%
5 Medical and Health 6%
6 HR and Recruiting 5%
7 Customer Service 3%

According to a recent study, the top industries for remote workers in 2023 are as follows:

  1. Computer and IT, with an expected 20% growth in remote work positions.
  2. Marketing, with an expected 15% growth in remote work positions.
  3. Accounting and Finance, with an expected 10% growth in remote work positions.
  4. Project Management, with an expected 8% growth in remote work positions.
  5. Medical and Health, with an expected 6% growth in remote work positions.
  6. HR and Recruiting, with an expected 5% growth in remote work positions.
  7. Customer Service, with an expected 3% growth in remote work positions.

The Most Common Remote Job Postings in 2022

Rank Job Title Percentage of Remote Job Postings
1 Accountant 12%
2 Executive Assistant 9%
3 Customer Service Representative 8%
4 Senior Financial Analyst 7%
5 Recruiter 6%
6 Project Manager 5%
7 Technical Writer 4%
8 Product Marketing Manager 3%
9 Customer Success Manager 2%
10 Graphic Designer 1%

Based on data from job postings in the past year, the most common remote job postings in 2022 were:

  1. Accountant, accounting for 12% of all remote job postings.
  2. Executive Assistant, accounting for 9% of all remote job postings.
  3. Customer Service Representative, accounting for 8% of all remote job postings.
  4. Senior Financial Analyst, accounting for 7% of all remote job postings.
  5. Recruiter, accounting for 6% of all remote job postings.
  6. Project Manager, accounting for 5% of all remote job postings.
  7. Technical Writer, accounting for 4% of all remote job postings.
  8. Product Marketing Manager, accounting for 3% of all remote job postings.
  9. Customer Success Manager, accounting for 2% of all remote job postings.
  10. Graphic Designer, accounting for 1% of all remote job postings.

Top Work From Home Platforms

Platform Number of users/participants
Zoom 300 million daily meeting participants in April 2021.
Microsoft Teams 145 million daily users in April 2021.
Google Meet 100 million daily meeting participants in April 2021.
Slack Over 12.5 million active users as of March 2021.

Here are the most used platforms for work from home based on recent studies:

  • Zoom: 300 million daily meeting participants in April 2021.
  • Microsoft Teams: 145 million daily users in April 2021.
  • Google Meet: 100 million daily meeting participants in April 2021.
  • Slack: Over 12.5 million active users as of March 2021.

As remote work continues to become more common, it's likely that these platforms will continue to see growth and may even become essential tools for businesses to operate effectively.

Remote Work by Demographics

Here are some statistics about "Remote Work by Demographics":

  • In 2021, women were more likely to work remotely than men, with 31.2% of women working from home compared to 25.7% of men.
  • The age group with the highest percentage of remote workers is between 35 and 44 years old, with 37.8% working remotely.
  • Employees with higher levels of education are more likely to work remotely, with 59.9% of those holding a bachelor's degree or higher working from home.
  • Rural workers are more likely to work remotely than urban workers, with 25% of rural employees working from home compared to only 14.9% of urban employees.
  • White and Asian workers are more likely to work remotely than Black and Hispanic workers. In 2021, 29.9% of White workers and 37% of Asian workers worked remotely, compared to only 19.7% of Black workers and 18.9% of Hispanic workers.
Source: Remote Work Statistics, Zippia.

Advantages of Working From Home

  • 32.2% of managers agree that productivity has increased since the shift to remote work in 2020.
  • 68% of enterprises report an improvement in employee productivity since the transition to remote work.
  • 94% of employees feel that their work productivity is the same or higher than before they worked remotely, with research showing that working from home increases performance by at least 22%.
  • 75% of employees believe they have a better work-life balance while working remotely, and other benefits cited include reduced stress (57%), reduced absences (56%), improved morale (54%), and fewer sick days (50%).
  • 62% of workers feel that remote work positively affects their work engagement, with 78% of remote work employees reporting feeling "highly engaged" in their work compared to only 72% of in-office employees.
  • 21% of workers are willing to give up vacation time for flexible work options, and at least 16% would give up employer-matching retirement contributions, potentially saving employers thousands of dollars.
  • Turnover reduces by 50% when employees have access to a remote work option, which can largely be attributed to the positive factors mentioned above, as well as workers feeling that they have more autonomy, retention, and creativity in a remote work environment.
Source: Remote Work Statistics, Zippia.

Work From Home Costs Statistics

  • The average company saves $11,000 per year for each employee who works remotely at least half the time. This is due to reduced overhead costs such as office space, utilities, and supplies.
  • Remote workers save an average of $4,000 per year on commuting costs.
  • In 2020, employees spent an additional $2,500 on home office equipment and supplies due to remote work.
  • Companies that allow remote work have a 25% lower employee turnover rate than those that do not.
  • Around 45% of remote workers report feeling isolated or lonely while working from home.

Challenges of Working From Home

Here are some statistics about the challenges of working from home:

  • 41% of remote workers struggle with unplugging after work, leading to longer work hours and potential burnout.
  • 20% of remote workers experience loneliness and isolation, which can negatively impact mental health.
  • 19% of remote workers have difficulty collaborating and communicating with their team members, leading to misunderstandings and decreased productivity.
  • 17% of remote workers report difficulty staying motivated and productive without the structure of an office environment.
  • 13% of remote workers struggle with distractions at home, such as household chores or family members.

It's important for employers to understand these challenges and take steps to address them in order to support their remote workforce.

Conclusion

Remote work has become increasingly popular in recent years, with a significant increase from 6% to 26.7% of American workers working fully remotely between 2018 and 2021. Experts predict that by 2025, there will be a 417% increase in remote work compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Remote work has many advantages, including improved productivity, better work-life balance, and reduced stress. However, it also poses challenges such as difficulty with collaboration and communication, loneliness and isolation, and struggles with unplugging after work.

Despite these challenges, remote work is expected to continue growing as more employers recognize its benefits.

Sources

Similar articles