Four years have passed since the start and many are wondering how many people are working from home and will continue to do so in the future? In our latest article, we provide all-encompassing statistics about remote work, examine popular remote workforce trends, and try to establish if everything will be done remotely in the time to come.

How Many People Work from Home

To set the foundation for our research on remote working, it’s imperative that we explore statistics of people working from home. They will offer us insights into the current state of work as well as give a preview of what the future holds for employers and employees.

1. 20% of workers are working remotely

In the United States, the percentage of people working from home rose to 20%, or one-fifth of the workforce. This has been attributed to the evolution of company operations and employee lifestyles in the face of the global pandemic. Traditional work environments are done away with, in favor of more flexible arrangements.

2. Remote workers are less likely to change companies

According to a survey carried out by Owl Labs in 2023, 23% of employees changed companies. What is interesting is the fact that this is more common among people who go to work in an office full time, about 26%. Only 17% of hybrid and remote workers decided to switch employers.

3. Staggering amount of people wish to work remotely

98% of employees desire to work from home for the rest of their careers. This figure showcases the deepening aspiration of workers to have more autonomy, flexibility, and more personal time. It’s not surprising that another 98% would recommend online work to their friends.

Benefits of Working From Home Statistics

Data on working from home shows definite benefits to the remote type of work as there are positive opportunities both for the employers and the workers. These range from cutting expenses on office rent to reduced risk of mental and physical exhaustion. Let’s explore statistics about working from home to highlight some of the main benefits.

4. Companies save money by having remote workers

When a business goes remote, it no longer has to pay an exorbitant amount of money for renting an office, along with other expenses like paying utility bills and ordering office supplies. About 50 workers on staff can save 500,000 dollars annually in such costs.

5. Positive impact on mental and physical health

One of the most important working from home facts is that this type of arrangement is good for the health of employees. 93% of respondents stated that working remotely has positively influenced their mental health and 90% told FlexJobs about a noticeable improvement in their physical condition.

6. Teleworkers save time on their commute

According to a paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, remote workers save around 72 minutes in commute time every day. What is more important, all that free time is channeled into working more. That is one of the most surprising working remotely trends.

Remote Workforce Statistics by Industry and Occupation

Some industries and jobs are more suited to remote work than others. Tech, marketing and customer services roles tend to thrive in a remote environment where digital tools boost productivity and collaboration. By looking at distributed workforce statistics across industries and occupations, we can see where remote work is heading and which sectors are more susceptible to it.

7. Industry

In 2024, the computer and IT sector leads the way, followed by accounting, finance, marketing, and healthcare all using digital tools to operate. The customer service sector has adapted to remote work through software, and sales reps use virtual platforms to interact with clients.

Administrative roles can do tasks remotely, and HR and operations not only go remote but also help other sectors adapt by reshaping workplace policies. This widespread acceptance of remote work post COVID times shows that industries are ready to evolve, and professionals are more open to change.

8. Occupation

In 2023, accounting was the number one remote job, as traditional roles moved to remote. Executive assistants adjusted just fine, managing tasks and communications from home. Financial analysts and project managers excelled in remote, using data analysis and team coordination. Customer service reps used remote platforms to keep client relationships intact.

Software engineers were still top remote, and customer success managers kept clients happy through virtual interactions. Accounting managers adapted to remote oversight of financials and product designers collaborated creatively, using digital tools. Writers kept producing content just fine in flexible environments, as most roles adapted to remote work.