83 Remote Work Statistics to Know

Remote working opportunities have exploded in popularity, and this trend exists for good reason. According to most sources, working from home has the power to increase productivity, improve employee happiness, and save businesses significant money.

These 83 remote work statistics draw from major studies including Buffer/AngelList’s State of Remote Work, OWLLabs research, Remote-how surveys, and other authoritative sources.

How Do Employees Feel About Remote Work?

Short answer: 98% of people want to work remotely at least some of the time, and 97% would recommend remote work to others.

Data from the 2020 State of Remote Work by Buffer and AngelList (surveying 3,500 remote workers globally) reveals strong employee preferences for remote work:

• 98% of people would like to work remotely at least some of the time—only 2% never want to work from home
• 97% of people would recommend remote work to others
• 57% of remote workers work remotely 100% of the time
• 70% are perfectly satisfied with their current remote work frequency
• 19% want to work remotely more often
• Only 11% wished they worked remotely less often

Remote workers are more satisfied when spending at least 76% of their time working remotely. Satisfaction tends to increase as people work remotely more frequently, likely due to developing consistent routines. Many teams not only survive but thrive with full-time remote work.

What Are the Biggest Benefits of Remote Work?

Short answer: Flexible schedules (32%), working from anywhere (26%), and no commute (21%) are the top benefits. 91% cite better work-life balance as their primary motivation.

According to the OWLLabs State of Remote Work 2019 Report (1,202 US employees aged 22-65):

• 91% choose remote work primarily for better work-life balance
• 83% believe working from home would make them happier
• 82% believe remote work would make them feel trusted by employers
• 81% agree remote work improves work-life balance
• 80% believe remote work would lower their stress
• 68% believe remote work will not negatively impact their career trajectory

Schedule flexibility is twice as important to remote workers compared to onsite workers. Education and training reimbursement is 26% more important to remote workers, who want employers to support their advancement. Don’t miss our tips on 21 ways to reduce and relieve stress!

What Are the Biggest Challenges of Remote Work?

Short answer: Communication strain (20%), loneliness (20%), inability to unplug (18%), and distractions at home (12%) are the top challenges.

From the Remote-how Remote Managers 2020 Report (594 global respondents, 529 with remote team management experience):

• 57% cite lack of relationships among employees as the biggest disadvantage
• 47% cite communication difficulties
• 45% cite decreased employee visibility
• 70% of remote workers feel “left out” of the workplace (source)

These challenges can be overcome with better communication and remote teamwork strategies. The most important traits for remote team managers are communication (69%), organizational skills (37%), and self-discipline (35%).

Does Remote Work Increase Productivity?

Short answer: Yes. Studies show 13-25% productivity increases for remote workers, with 77% self-reporting higher productivity.

Multiple studies confirm remote work increases productivity:

• 13% performance boost in the famous Stanford remote work study
• 20-25% more productive according to a JD Edwards study
• 77% of remote workers consider themselves more productive
• 52% less likely to take time off
• 83% of people don’t believe they need an office to be productive
• 82% of remote workers report less stress

Why are remote workers more productive? 86% of people prefer to work alone, and 61% believe coworkers are their biggest distraction. According to Atlassian, 76% of workers want to avoid the office when concentrating on demanding projects.

72% of people prioritize email as a communication medium, which is perfect for remote work. For tips on managing your time effectively, see our comprehensive guide.

How Does Remote Work Affect Businesses?

Short answer: Companies see 25% lower turnover, 33% faster hiring, and potential savings of $11,000 per employee per year.

Business benefits from remote work are substantial:

• 50% lower attrition in the Stanford study
• 25% lower turnover for companies with remote work (OWL Labs)
• 33% faster hiring for companies with remote positions available
• 74% of employees would be less likely to leave an employer offering remote work
• $11,000 savings per employee per year possible through telework (Global Workplace Analytics)
• AT&T saved $150 million in extra productive hours and $30 million per year in real estate (source)

If every employee who could work from home did so just half the time, employers and employees could save a collective $700 billion. Remote managers agree: 87% believe remote work is the future, with only 2% disagreeing.

Does Remote Work Improve Employee Loyalty?

Short answer: Yes. 79% would be more loyal with flexibility, and 32% have left jobs specifically due to lack of flexibility.

According to Flexjobs research:

• 79% of employees would be more loyal if their employer offered more flexibility
• 32% of employees have left a job due to lack of flexibility
• 85% of millennials want to work remotely full-time (source)
• 69% of millennials would sacrifice other benefits to work from home (IWG)
• 72% of professionals agree workplace flexibility is important for future HR and recruiting (LinkedIn)

Remote workers are 24% more likely to be happy and satisfied employees are more productive. Employees who work remotely want to stick around.

How Does Remote Work Affect Salaries and Expenses?

Short answer: Remote workers making under $100k earn $4,000 more annually on average, and 30% save $5,000+ per year on work-related expenses.

Financial benefits for remote workers according to The Penny Hoarder and other sources:

• $4,000 more per year for remote workers earning under $100k compared to traditional workers
• 30% of remote employees save $5,000+ annually on workplace-related expenses
• 34% would take a 5% pay cut to work remotely
• 24% would take a 10% pay cut to work remotely
• 74% of remote workers earn less than $100k, vs. 92% of onsite workers

However, 80% of remote workers must pay for their own internet, and 72% would pay for their own coworking membership if desired.

How Fast Is Remote Work Growing?

Short answer: Remote work grew 115% over the past decade, with 7 million employees now working from home at least half the week.

Remote work availability statistics show rapid growth:

• 115% growth in remote work over the past decade
• 7 million employees now work from home at least half the week (Global Workplace Analytics)
• 23% of people work from home at least some of the time (BLS)
• 62% of employees aged 22-65 work remotely at least occasionally
• 30% of all employees now work remotely full-time
• 80% of remote workers work from home (vs. 9% company office, 7% coworking spaces)

For tips on setting up your workspace, check out our guide on how to create an awesome work from home setup!

How Do Remote Workers’ Habits Differ From Onsite Workers?

Short answer: Remote workers attend more meetings (14% attend 11+ weekly vs. 3% onsite), work longer hours because they enjoy their work, but maintain similar daily routines.

Interesting differences between remote and onsite workers:

• 14% of remote workers attend 11+ meetings weekly (vs. 3% of onsite workers)
• 40% of remote workers work longer hours because they enjoy what they do (vs. 17% onsite)
• 20% of remote workers feel overworked (vs. 22% of onsite workers—similar)
• Remote workers don’t significantly change their routines—still waking up at similar times and showering before work
• Most common remote team size managed: 3-8 people

56% of managers work with fully remote teams, while 44% work with hybrid teams. The biggest advantages managers see: happier employees (59%), access to global talent (57%), and more productive employees (52%).

Who Works Remotely? Demographics and Roles

Short answer: Remote workers tend to be managers (32%) or individual contributors (35%), with executives increasingly working remotely (46% of C-suite, 55% of VPs).

Remote work demographics by role and tenure:

• 35% of remote employees are individual contributors
• 32% of remote employees are team managers
• 46% of C-suite members work remotely at least occasionally
• 55% of VPs work remotely at least occasionally
• 18% of executives work remotely more than onsite
• Customer support is more likely to be onsite (21% vs. 14%)
• Facilities/operations/IT is more likely to be remote (18% vs. 12%)

Onsite workers are 75% more likely to have been in their position for less than a year, suggesting remote work is often earned through tenure. 43% of remote workers are in companies with split teams (part remote, part office), while 30% are in fully remote companies.

Addressing the Challenges of Remote Work

Remote work isn’t purely advantageous—you’ll experience growing pains adapting to new circumstances. You’ll need ways to track employee productivity and behavior while your team works remotely.

For more guidance, see our related resources:

• Working from home tips scientifically proven to boost productivity
• 21 essential tools for remote teams
• How to know if your remote employees are working
• Creating a remote work policy
• How to ask your boss to work from home
• 23 ways to motivate employees
• The future of remote work