21+ Work From Home Statistics That Will Impress You in 2022

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)

• 97% of remote workers would recommend it.
• 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 working has grown exponentially more so during the pandemic when companies had no choice but to adopt it.

It’s been over 24 months since the massive switch to remote working. But how do employers and employees feel about it now?

Here are some work from trends and stats from 2022. 

1.9 in 10 people advocate for Working From Home (WFH).

(Source: Buffer)

An overwhelming number of people (97%) would recommend  WFH to their friends and family.

There’s more:

That 97% would love to continue working away from physical offices for the rest of their careers. 3% want the opposite. 

2. A ¼ of all professional North American jobs will be remote by the last quarter of 2022.

(Source: Forbes)

A few years ago, remote working was a preserve of freelancers.

Telecommuting work stats for 2022 reveal that by Q4 of 2022, two in 10 professional roles will be virtual. We should expect more vacant positions like these throughout 2023 and beyond. 

3. 49% of employees work remotely full-time.

(Source: Buffer)

According to working from home stats, nearly half of the workers are on a 100% telecommuting basis. 23% are close to fully working from home, while 16% go to the office occasionally. Only 11% apply the office first approach.

4. The United States will have the highest number of remote staff in 2022.

(Source: Gartner)

On a global scale, the virtual workers of America will take the most significant share of the pie with over 50%. China and India's teleworking will also continue to grow, although the penetration rate will be low compared to the US.

5. The UK will represent 52% of Europe’s remote workforce.

(Source: Gartner)

The United Kingdom has the most significant number of work-from-home employees in Europe. It’s ahead of the pack with 52%. Germany and France come in second and third, with 37% and 33% respectively. 

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. 64% of people that prefer to work from home cite work-life balance as their number one reason.

(Source: Pew Research Center)

Six in ten people that started working virtually during the pandemic don’t want to go back to the office. They say they now have more personal time to be around their families.

That could be because they don’t have to spend hours in traffic jams trying to make their way to and from work. Additionally, over 40% say they’re able to beat deadlines easily.

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. 

10.67% of high-income earners are working from home.

(Source: PewResearch Center)

Most of the survey participants with high salaries are working remotely in 2022. 56% of middle earners also said they do, while only 53% of those getting low pay are. 

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. Healthcare has the biggest share of telecommuters.

(Source: Find Stack, Forbes)

15% of virtual workers are in healthcare. IT telecommuting jobs take the second position at 10%, while financial services are in third place at 9%. 

Telemedicine is taking center stage, with doctors using video calls to treat patients. Examples of other healthcare roles that don’t need a physical interaction are:

• Claims management
• Patient intake
• Community relations

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. Over ⅗ of workers rate telecommuting as very positive.

(Source: Buffer)

Job satisfaction statistics for 2022 reveal that 61% of remote workers love it because it allows them flexibility with their time. 29% say their experience has been so-so, while only 1% feel negative about it. 

15. 72% of survey participants say their company will allow them to work remotely permanently.

(Source: Buffer)

19% said they were unsure, while 9% said they’d return to the office when the pandemic was over. 

16. 62% of staff are more excited about their jobs since switching to virtual working.

(Source: Buffer)

62% of people that switched to remote employment say they look forward to working, unlike before. 28% say there’s no change, while 10% are less excited.

17. Most people choose to work remotely.

(Source: Pew Research Center)

In a survey, 61% of respondents say they’re now working remotely out of choice and not because of the circumstances, i.e., having to comply with stay-at-home orders. 

38% work from home, because their workspace is unavailable.

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. 31% of people don’t struggle with working from home.

(Source: Buffer)

In other words, they’ve fully adapted.

However, ¼ say they’re not able to unplug at the end of a workday. In addition, 21% feel more lonely since they don’t have face-to-face physical interactions with their colleagues. 

22. Employers can save up to $44 billion per year by 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 their 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?