BOULDER, Colo., July 30, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Based on an analysis of American Community Survey data by Global Workplace Analytics and FlexJobs, the number of people telecommuting in the U.S. increased 159 percent between 2005 and 2017. This new data is based on a special analysis of the most current U.S. government data available (from 2017, released in 2018), and represents the most up-to-date statistics about remote work in the United States. 3.4 percent of the total U.S. workforce currently telecommute, up from 2.9 percent in 2015. "Telecommuters/remote workers" refer to non-self-employed people who principally work from home at least half-time.
"Remote work has grown steadily since 2005 as more companies of all types—private, public, nonprofit, and start-up—recognize the bottom-line benefits of integrating remote work into their business strategies," said Sara Sutton, Founder, and CEO of FlexJobs. "With improvements to technology, and increasing demands from employees in a tight labor market, we fully expect to see the momentum around this important workplace continue to grow," Sutton concluded.
Findings include:
Since 2005 remote work has grown 159%
Between 2016 and 2017 remote work grew 7.9%
Over the last 5 years, remote work has grown 44%
Over the last 10 years, remote work has grown 91%
3.4% of the total U.S. workforce are remote workers, up from 2.9% in 2015
4.7 million people in the U.S. currently telecommute, up from 3.9 million in 2015
"It's important to note that full-time and even half-time telecommuters are among the minority -- a far larger portion of the workforce, about half, works from home at least once a month," said Kate Lister, president of Global Workplace Analytics. "Talent shortages are fueling the growth of workplace flexibility right now because not only is it one of the most sought-after benefits among job seekers today, it also expands the talent pool by allowing employers to hire the best and the brightest from around the world," said Lister.
FlexJobs has also recently compiled its 2019 Remote Work Statistics Report, which offers additional data around the value of remote work to companies, employees, and the environment.
For additional information, please visit https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/flexjobs-gwa-report-remote-growth/ or contact Kathy Gardner at kgardner(at)flexjobs.com and Kate Lister at Kate(at)GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics.com.
About FlexJobs
FlexJobs is committed to helping people find a better way to work. As the leading online service for professionals seeking remote, flexible schedule, part-time, and freelance jobs, FlexJobs offers opportunities in over 50 career categories, ranging from entry-level to executive and freelance to full-time. FlexJobs also sets itself apart by providing job seekers with a better, safer, and more efficient way to find professional and legitimate flexible jobs. Having helped nearly four million people in their job searches, FlexJobs has appeared in CNN, CNBC, TIME, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and hundreds of other trusted media outlets. To further assist people in bettering their lives through flexible and remote work, FlexJobs' Founder & CEO Sara Sutton has also launched two additional partner sites, Remote.co and 1 Million for Work Flexibility, to help provide education and awareness about the viability and benefits of remote working and work flexibility. Sutton is also the creator of The TRaD* Works Forum (*Telecommuting, Remote, & Distributed), dedicated to helping companies leverage the benefits of telecommuting, remote and distributed teams.
About Global Workplace Analytics
Global Workplace Analytics is an evidence-based consulting firm that helps employers and communities quantify, measure, and promote the people, planet, and profit impact of workplace strategies that improve employee flexibility, engagement, well-being, and more. They are the leading authority on telecommuting trends around the world. The firm's principals, Kate Lister, and Tom Harnish, are highly regarded speakers, writers, and thought leaders on the future of work. They have written four business books and scores of articles for major media outlets. Their research has been cited by the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and hundreds of other outlets. Their proprietary tool for quantifying telework impact, the Workplace Savings Calculator™ was described in a 2016 GAO report to Congress, as "comprehensive and based on solid research."
SOURCE FlexJobs
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