Remote Work Statistics & Trends In 2024

New data highlights the extensive impact of remote work on professionals, employers, and the broader workforce. FlexJobs, the premier career service for remote and hybrid work, has released the 2024 Remote Work Stats & Trends Report. The report reveals that a significant majority of people prefer either fully remote (51%) or hybrid (46%) job setups, and it delves into the latest data, statistics, and insights regarding the current state of remote work.

“Whether you’re adopting a hybrid or fully remote model, it’s evident that the future of work is centered on flexibility,” stated Sara Sutton, Founder of FlexJobs. “Our annual report shows that remote work has extensive benefits for both employees and companies, fostering a more productive, empowered, and resilient workforce overall,” Sutton added.

The FlexJobs 2024 Remote Work Stats & Trends Report offers a detailed, numerical analysis of the wide-reaching effects of remote work on various key areas. These include job and hiring trends, employee wellbeing and productivity, multi-generational workforces, and the future of work, among others.

2024 State of Remote Work Overview

FlexJobs’ Remote Work & RTO Pulse Report discovered that 63% of individuals prioritize “having remote work” over salary (61%), a flexible schedule (55%), work-life boundaries (54%), and having a good boss (48%). According to FlexJobs’ Work Insights Survey, 95% of workers desire some form of remote work. Specifically:

• 54% want to work from home full-time
• 41% prefer a hybrid work arrangement
• Only 5% favor full-time office work

Women show a stronger preference for fully remote work environments than men, with 58% of women identifying remote work as ideal, compared to 42% of men who prefer to work from home full-time. A Gallup survey indicated that 8 in 10 people are working in either a hybrid or fully remote setup. Owl Labs reported that 67% of managers anticipate changes in their employer’s remote and hybrid work policies within the next year, despite 79% of managers believing their teams are more productive when working remotely.

Remote Talent Attraction & Retention

FlexJobs’ Remote Work & RTO Pulse Report revealed that 56% of professionals know someone who has quit or plans to quit due to return-to-office mandates. In a FlexJobs survey, the primary reasons workers expressed interest in changing careers were:

• Remote work options (50%)
• Higher pay (48%)
• Better work-life balance (46%)

Gallup found that employers benefit from a larger talent pool, a stronger employee value proposition, and reduced turnover.

Employer Benefits & Cost Savings

Research from Global Workplace Analytics indicates that businesses lose $600 billion annually due to workplace distractions. Remote work can mitigate these losses by reducing attrition and unscheduled absences while boosting productivity. In fact, a FlexJobs survey revealed that 77% of professionals feel more productive working remotely than in a traditional office setting. Additionally, FlexJobs’ Generations at Work Report found that 80% of Gen Z and Gen X and 76% of millennials report higher productivity when working from home compared to the office.

The FlexJobs Work Insights Survey also noted that nearly one-third (30%) of professionals believe remote and hybrid work positively impacts their career growth. You can check out Report on Candidate Experience.

JobsReach helps employers in clearly defining job requirements for candidates using AI. It also suggests salary expectations based on current industry standards and trends to attract suitable candidates without missing out on top talent. Operating on the principle of transparency, JobsReach ensures that every job published on the platform discloses salary ranges, perks, and other benefits. This information is widely distributed to attract the right candidates for JobsReach’s partner companies.

Remote Worker Financial Savings

FlexJobs estimates that remote workers save, on average, $6,000 or more annually, while employers can save up to $11,000 per remote employee. According to FlexJobs’ Remote Work & RTO Pulse Report, 63% of professionals are willing to accept a salary decrease to work remotely, with 17% willing to take a 20% pay cut. However, pay reductions might not be necessary, as WFHResearch has found that remote workers earn an average of $19,000 more than their in-office counterparts. You can look through Salaries in the Netherlands 2024.

Remote Employee Mental & Physical Health

According to FlexJobs’ Remote Work & RTO Pulse Report, a significant majority of respondents believe that remote work has a positive impact on employees’ mental (93%) and physical health (90%). FlexJobs’ 2023 Work Insights Survey found that 96% of workers think a remote or hybrid work arrangement would be best for their mental health. The same survey reported that 48% of respondents identified “decreased stress levels” as the top health benefit of remote work. Other benefits cited include:

• Less burnout (36%)
• Healthier food choices (35%)
• Reduced anxiety and depression (34%)
• Improved overall mental health (33%)
• Better sleep (32%)
• Increased exercise (30%)
• Improved overall physical health (28%)

A FlexJobs survey conducted with Mental Health America revealed that employees with flexible work options reported better mental health compared to those without, who were nearly twice as likely to experience poor or very poor mental health.

Challenges of Remote Work

FlexJobs’ Work Insights Survey identified several key challenges associated with remote work:

• Not getting out often enough (28%)
• Overworking/working more (28%)
• Working across time zones (19%)
• Developing strong relationships at work (19%)
• Troubleshooting technology issues (18%)
• Dealing with non-work distractions (17%)
• Feeling “invisible” to the boss (16%)

Multi-Generational Support of Remote Work

FlexJobs’ Generations at Work Report reveals strong support for remote and hybrid work options across generations: Gen Z (40%), millennials (56%), and Gen X (75%). Nearly half of millennials (45%) and about two-thirds of Gen X (62%) prefer working remotely full-time. Although only 22% of Gen Z workers favor a fully remote setup, a significant majority (73%) support a hybrid work environment. The same survey found that only 11% of Gen Z are working remotely full-time, compared to 27% of millennials and 42% of Gen X. This limited access to remote work for Gen Z may contribute to their feeling that their identity is too closely tied to their job (88%), compared to 68% of millennials and 52% of Gen X.

Remote Work by Location

Research by WalletHub indicates that not all states are equally conducive to remote work, with some offering more favorable conditions than others. Based on 12 metrics, Delaware, Utah, Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia are among the best locations for remote work.

You can explore the top job sites in the Netherlands to find the best talent in 2024.

Future Projections: Remote Work Is Here to Stay

FlexJobs has observed a steady increase in remote and hybrid job postings over the years. Certain career fields and companies have consistently posted a high volume of remote and hybrid roles, making them strong prospects for job seekers. You can also find the most in-demand jobs in the Netherlands.

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