Remote Work Statistics: How Work Changed in 2021

Ask anyone: Work changed in 2021.

Remote work statistics 2021 reflect that remote work, and remote work productivity, completely changed throughout the year. Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the most important statistics about working from home, hybrid work statistics, and what they mean for security and the labor market.

At the end of 2021, 32 percent of all employees were working remotely. (Gartner)

The pandemic significantly accelerated the rise of remote work. But the truth is that people were moving in that direction regardless. People want to work from home. Being able to work from home isn’t just freeing, but it’s often more productive. If Gartner is correct, about 1/3 of all employees are going to be working from home, at least in part, very shortly. And that number is likely going to increase.

Working from home saves employees about an hour every day. (Upwork)

Employees are able to save time when working remotely because they don’t have to commute. The average commute, especially in the United States, can be considerable. This is time that many employees put back into their work.

65% of remote workers don’t ever want to return to the office. (FlexJobs)

A lot of remote workers aren’t interested in returning to the office; in fact, they will quit their jobs if they are required to. Employers are going to have to find more flexible options if they want to procure in-demand talent.

By working remotely half the time, employees can save a business about $11,000 a year. (Global Workplace Analytics)

Working remotely isn’t just great for employees. Employers actually save a considerable amount of money when they let their employees work from home. They don’t need to rent expensive office space, pay utilities, or often even purchase technology and supplies.

94% of employers stated that productivity was as high or higher after a shift to remote work. (SHRM)

During 2021, employers said that their productivity was either as high or higher than before. This may not seem as dramatic as it is, but during the global pandemic and dramatic work process shifts, having productivity either equal to or greater than the past is actually quite good. All told, all statistics point to the fact that employees are significantly more productive when they work remotely.

84% of workers prefer to work from home. (Buffer)

Since most workers prefer to work from home, employers are going to find that the best talent will only be remotely available. This is a good thing for employers too, however, as they’ll be able to hire people from a vast talent pool.

59% of workers would prefer to choose an employer who allowed them to work remotely. (Apollo Technical)

When choosing between employers, workers have a bias for employers who let them work remotely. This is true on a broader scale, even though only about 37 percent of work can be fully transitioned to remote labor. Employers can make their jobs significantly more attractive by providing remote work.

Employees are 22% more productive when they’re able to work from home. (Stanford)

People often think that work from home employees are less productive. But they’re actually more so. Since they’re happier and they have more time, they are 22% more productive when they can work from home. Working from home means that employees are able to work when they have a clear head, can devote more time to their work, and can ultimately get more things done. Often, they can also get these things done without a lot of outside motivation.

51% of employees believe they are more productive when they work from home. (FlexJobs)

Employees also know that they’re more productive at home. Most employees want to do a good job and want to get things done. So, knowing that they are more productive at home and can do a better job at home can serve as encouragement for employees to desire this flexible time.

77% of IT employees are working from home, making it the top industry for work from home jobs. (BCG)

IT is by far the biggest industry currently working from home. IT personnel were often working from home even before the pandemic. The IT industry is quickly growing and many services, such as managed services, are being delivered remotely to customers.

What do these remote working productivity statistics mean? People are happier at home and home work is here to stay. More people are going to be working remotely moving forward — but we also need security systems that can ensure that their data is protected.

Red River can help. Contact Red River today to learn more about WFH security and collaborative tools.