21+ Work From Home Statistics That Will Impress You in 2020

Working from home is one of those things people can’t seem to agree on. 

Some say it’s the best thing that ever happened to their professional life. 

And some feel as they’ve been sentenced to exile – tortured by any inanimate object in their quite homes, while forced to withdraw from human contact.

In times of isolation, perhaps you, like me, gravitate toward the second group.

But wait!

There are some very intriguing work from home statistics you should all know about. 

Let’s jump right into:

Exciting Work From Home Statistics (Editor’s Choice)

• In 2017, about 3.7 million employees worked from home worldwide.
• Around 86% of employees in the U.S. report they’re more productive when they work alone.
• Telecommuters earn around $4,000 more per annum than the average non-telecommuter. 
• 16% of all telecommuters are employed at managerial positions.
• 82% of telecommuters say they feel less stress.
• Companies that offer even part-time remote work collectively save $44 billion per year.
• Only in the U.S. remote workers avoid the release of 3.6 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions by not commuting.

Right. 

So, it turns out working from home doesn’t simply appeal to those of us who dread the formal attire of the corporate environment –  it’s also good for the planet! 

Woo-hoo!

But let’s dial my enthusiasm down and answer the burning question:

What is telecommuting?

Telecommuting– or working from home as it’s often referred tо– is an agreement between an employer and employee that the employee will work outside of the office. The work can be fully or partly remote. 

Telecommuting doesn’t necessarily mean you need to stay at home to do it. Work from coffees, libraries or co-working spaces is also considered remote. 

Remote employment is the hype since the turn of the century. The number of telecommuters is growing exponentially ever since 2005. 

For a period of 10 years:

1. Between 2007 and 2017 teleworking has grown with 91%.

(Source: Flexjobs)

That’s the growth only in the U.S. The number goes way over 100% if other countries are taken into account. 

However, the States score a very high number in the telecommuting statistics.

2. Employees in the U.S. work remotely full-time 66% more often than the worldwide average. 

(Source: Owllabs)

While the U.S represents the majority of full-time workers, the country is yet to catch up with the global part-time work from home statistics. 

3. In 2018, 68% of workers around the world worked remotely at least once a month.

(Source: Owllabs)

The trend shows that an increasing number of companies globally start to recognize the benefits of telecommuting.  

South America seems to be ahead of the world in that regard. Working from home stats show that:

4. In 2018, South America had 81% more fully-remote companies than the world’s average.

(Source: Owllabs)

Latin America is leading the world of work at home companies for now and technology is surely contributing. 

Today, we can stay connected to the world and not even think about it. We’ve gone far in terms of data transfer speed, connection quality, and security. All that is now affordable and enables people to do their job from any corner of the world.

But we’re yet to see an increase in the telecommuters in Europe, where numbers of jobs that allow you to work remotely are still quite low. 

According to Eurostat:

5. In 2018, only 5.2% of employees between 15-64 worked from home in Europe.

(Source: Eurostat)

And the number hasn’t changed significantly in 10 years. 

The Netherlands holds the highest percentage of the work from home stats in the EU with 14% of telecommuters, followed closely by Finland with 13.3%, and Luxembourg with 11%. 

Numbers aside, people’s desire to work remotely is a factor that will play part in the labor market of the future. 

In a report carried out by Buffer, it is stated that:

6. 99% of the surveyed expressed their desire to try virtual work from home at least some time in their professional career.

(Source: Buffer) 

If the majority of the workforce is keen on at least trying telecommuting there must be some benefits, right?

Besides high-speed internet, what drives the growth of work from home statistics up? 

Buffer reports that a flexible schedule is the number one benefit for employees. 

7. In 2019, 40% of surveyed people reported flexible schedule as the most desirable benefit of remote work.

(Source: Buffer) 

It’s easy to see how that’s appealing. More and more people are interested in their personal development outside the working place. They want to be able to plan their time in a way that accommodates it all. Working remotely allows that. 

And that’s great! 

What’s more interesting is that people seem to not even care about their salaries so much.

8. 34% of U.S. employees are willing to take a 5% pay cut so they can work from home.

(Source: Owllabs)

Telecommuting has become so desirable that people are ready to make the sacrifice of getting less money so they can navigate their workday as they please. 

What’s more, work from home statistics show that:

9. 69% of millennials are ready to trade other work benefits for better workspace alternatives.

(Source: Forbes)

It turns out for most employees there isn’t a greater benefit than working from home. But to make it even more exciting, numbers show that people who telecommute earn more. 

10. Remote employees earn twice as much as full-time office employees. 

(Source: Owllabs)

Owllabs reports that in the U.S. for the past year the salaries of those working from home averages at more than $100,000 per year. 

Of course, things are not that simple. Statistics also show that: 

11. 18% more executives work remotely than on-site. 

(Source: Owllabs)

Senior executives work from home at least once a week. That’s 34% more than employees at lower positions!  So in part, the higher salaries are due to the higher positions telecommuters hold.

Among the industries that are taking advantage of remote work benefits is, of course, technology. 

12. IT telecommute jobs represent 10% of the market.

(Source: Owllabs)

The industry is surpassed only by Healthcare, where about 15% of employees work remotely.

Another factor that plays an important role is loyalty. Employees given the opportunity to work from home are less inclined to look for another job and more likely to stay longer at the company. 

In fact, Owllab confirms that in a 2019 survey:

13. 82% of employees stated that working remotely will make them feel more trusted at work.

(Source: Owllabs)

The responsibility to self-organize their working day is immensely appreciated by workers. That builds rapport.  

So it’s no wonder that telecommuting statistics show that: 

14. 81% of the questioned say that the opportunity to telecommute will make them more likely to recommend their company to a friend.

(Source: Owllabs)

Good old word-of-mouth does wonders for companies with happy employees. And what better than showing your staff that you care. This approach works positively for brands and makes employees stick around. 

15. 74% of employees say that remote work will make them less likely to leave their employer.

(Source: Owllabs)

Telecommuting work stats in 2019 show it’s all about finding a balance between the needs of the company and those of the employees. 

In fact:

16. Telecommuters confirm they plan to stay at their current job for the next 5 years – that’s 13% more than office workers.

(Source: Owllabs)

Companies who are more flexible and consider new ways to stimulate loyalty and productivity face labor market challenges better. And work at home jobs are definitely the trend of 2020 that will help you engage with employees. 

17. About 71% of surveyed employees confirm that the option to work remotely is a factor they’ll consider when choosing their next employer.

(Source: Owllabs)

The majority of job seekers, prefer to have the option to work outside the office. It’s interesting to mention that more than half of the surveyed also state they’re not concerned that working from home could negatively affect their career progression.  

Furthermore, those who haven’t tried remote work yet planned to do so soon. All points to a trend of a growing number of telecommuters. 

18. 42% of employees working from home say they plan to work remotely more frequently in the next 5 years.

(Source: Owllabs)

The desire of employees to give remote work a try has its impact. The employee turnover rate, for example, can create difficulties and additional costs for the company. Companies that offer work from home options can save themselves the trouble.

19. Businesses that have remote work options experience 25% less employee turnover. 

(Source: Owllabs)

Remote work is not going anywhere and those who want to keep up should consider offering such options to their employees. 

There’s much to be done in this regard still. Work from home stats indicate that:

20. 44% of the companies around the globe don’t offer remote work at all.

(Source: Owllabs)

The number of employers who haven’t adapted the trend is considerable. And it’s something companies need to take into account. 

With more employees seeking a work-life balance the demand for full-time remote positions grows. But the business is not ready to meet it.

21. In 2018, only about 16% of global companies offered full-time telecommute jobs.

(Source: Owllabs)

Full-time remote work is not that popular among employers yet. But it’s good to mention that 40% of the global companies do provide some sort of work from home option – part-time, a few days a month, or else. 

And that reflects the finances of those companies.  

22. Employers can save up to $44 billion per year offering part-time remote jobs.

(Source: Fundera)

Telecommuting saves money in commuting for the employee but also contributes to the bottom line of the employer. 

It’s estimated that a single half-time telecommuter can save its employer up to $11,000 each year.

The benefits are not only financial. 

23. 86% of the employees say they’re more productive at their work-from-home jobs.

(Source: Fundera)

This information is confirmed by managers who report an increase in the overall productivity of those working from home. 

The benefits of a home office are extended to both employers and employees. However, remote work has a collectively greater impact on reducing pollution. 

24. US remote workers prevent 3.6 tones of greenhouse emissions from entering the atmosphere.

(Source: Flexjobs)

Telecommuters contribute to the decrease of emissions by simply not commuting to work. 

It’s not hard to believe how much not commuting to work can do, but statistics also confirm it.

In 2017, the US Environmental Protection Agency reported that 29% of the greenhouse emissions came from transportation. Data shows that if we stay at home we’re not only able to plan our own day, but also to contribute to reducing pollution. 

Companies can also not only reduce costs for office space but reduce their environmental footprint.

25. Back in 2017, greenhouse gas emissions from businesses and households represented 11.6% of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

(Source: FlexJobs)

Business offices are one of the top greenhouse gas contributors in the country. So being conscious about our impact on the world around us adds to the many reasons to work from home.

Wrap Up

In these couple of months of forced confinement, we’re challenged as never before. Willing or not most of us have to work from home. 

Now we can personally see all the benefits and downsides. Work from home statistics show that telecommuting is good for employers, employees and even the planet. 

Do you too find it more comfortable? Or are you more productive when in the office?