8 Remote Working Statistics You Need to Know

With the ever-increasing focus on remote working as a means of boosting productivity and engagement, it’s important employers know about the measurable benefits of a remote workforce. Technology is improving all the time, and work culture is always evolving, so it’s no surprise that remote work is becoming a growing presence in companies all over the world.

More and more people are becoming able to experience the benefits of flexible working arrangements. This shift has unleashed some interesting facts and statistics about remote working. We take a look at eight of these stats, and explore what these mean for the current business landscape and the future world of work:

1. Employees find their work-life balance is greatly improved

Flexible working arrangements are a great way to empower employees to manage their work-life balance better. By being offered remote working options, people have been able to improve their mental and physical health, as well as reduce stress levels and avoid burnout. According to a recent survey by FlexJobs, 97% of the 3,000+ respondents stated that a flexible job would significantly improve their overall quality of life.

2. Stress levels can be reduced greatly

During our working life, one of the things we generally have to accept is that there will be a certain amount of stress. In some cases, this can be helpful to our performance in the lead-up to a deadline, but too much stress can be very damaging to our mental and physical health. A survey from PGI revealed that 82% of telecommuters reported a reduction in stress when they worked outside the office.

3. Avoiding tough commutes is good for your health

When you don’t have to commute, your travel costs are greatly reduced, meaning an increase in real income. You also save many hours of your life that would otherwise be spent travelling, and avoid the stress of navigating peak travel time rush. A report cited in Forbes showed that 55% of people reported that their daily stress levels were increased by commuting.

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55% of people report that commuting increases their daily stress levels

4. Remote workers are more productive

One of the main benefits for employees who provide remote working options is the demonstrable increase in productivity. A survey by Global Workplace Analytics Costs & Benefits shows that teleworkers in large companies are as much as 35-40% more productive than their in-office counterparts.

5. Companies that accommodate remote work can reduce costs

Companies that hire remote workers see a tangible reduction in the costs of running a well-equipped and staffed office for their entire workforce. The same survey by Global Workplace Analytics showed that 60% of employers surveyed reported cost savings as one of the key benefits of allowing employees to work from home. By offering remote working, tech giants IBM famously reduced real estate costs by $50 million.

6. The number of remote workers is increasing

Freelance platform Upwork reported a prediction that, by 2027, more than 50% of the US workforce will be working remotely. The number of employees with flexible working arrangements is growing rapidly, as more companies are realising the benefits of a remote workforce.

7. Remote work is good for the environment

By eliminating the daily commute, working from home leads to a significant reduction in the carbon emissions associated with travelling by car. By working outside of the office for just half of the week, remote workers could see their total greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 54 million tons per year. Typical office resources are reduced too, with significant savings in paper consumption, electricity use, and heating/air-con requirements.

traffic-on-congested-motorway-at-sunset

By working from home half the time, remote workers could reduce greenhouse gasses by 54 million tons per year

8. Remote work isn’t going anywhere

The Global Talent Trends Report from LinkedIn shows that 72% of talent professionals agree that flexible working is very important for the future of recruiting and HR. The past 2 years have seen no less than a 78% increase in LinkedIn job posts which include flexible work arrangements. Remote work is clearly here to stay – and not just a passing trend in the jobs market.

Digital workplace tools, such as intranet platforms, video conferencing, and internal social media, make remote working a reality. This technology makes it easier than ever before to hire and manage a remote workforce, giving everyone the ability to communicate and collaborate as effectively as if they were all together in a single office space.

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