There is finally data to support what most people suspected was true about remote work - it is here to stay. An annual survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released in June found that 35% of workers did some or all of their work at home in 2023, up from 34% in 2022.
The data comes from the detailed Annual Time Use Survey, which measures how Americans spend their time, including leisure, household chores, and work. The fact that work-from-home rates increased indicates that remote work has stabilized, transitioning from a pandemic necessity to a new professional reality.
Overall, workers are much more likely to work from home now compared to pre-pandemic. In 2019, just 24% of workers spent any time working from home during the workweek. In 2020, when the pandemic struck, there was a massive surge, with 51% of employees working fully remotely according to Gallup data.
When the Bureau of Labor Statistics resumed data collection, they found the remote work rate, including both hybrid and fully remote, was 38% in 2021. This highlights the trend towards hybrid work schedules, where companies require at least some time in the office. The share of fully remote jobs has been declining since last year, making them highly coveted.
One reason employees value remote work is that it allows them to manage their own schedules. When working remotely, people worked an average of 5 hours per day compared to 8 hours when in the office, according to the BLS data.
The data also suggests that women and people with disabilities are generally more attracted to remote work. The BLS report found 36% of women worked remotely compared to 34% of men. However, women still face added burdens, doing more household work when working from home.
In contrast, in-person positions tend to appeal more to younger workers who seek mentorship and the office experience. However, even younger workers want the option to work from home for at least part of the week.