Key Takeaways
- Full-time remote work dropped from 55% (October 2022) to 35% (February 2023), hinting at a return to in-office work.
- Remote work is still popular, with a rise in those working “some or most of the time.”
- Job postings for remote work in major US cities are at a peak.
- Experts argue that remote work is here to stay, and companies should adapt to keep talented employees.
As the world grapples with new strains of the virus and vaccination efforts ramp up, a recent survey suggests that full-time remote work arrangements are falling, though still five times higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Remote Work Arrangements Declining
According to a Forbes report, citing data from an independent study (by Pew Research Center), 35% of workers with jobs that can be done remotely reported working from home full-time.
This, per the study, is a decrease from the past, with 35% of people working from home full-time as of February 2023, down from 43% in January 2022 and 55% in October 2022, indicating a recent wave of companies calling people back to the office.
“It does seem like there has been a shift that could be permanent in how people with teleworkable jobs think about where they work,” says Juliana Horowitz, Pew’s Associate Director of Social and Demographic Trends Research, in the report.
She added that a third of the sample set (5,775 U.S. adults who work full-time or part-time) was found to have been working from home.
Flexibility in Remote Work
The survey also found that more people work remotely “some or most of the time,” while fewer people who can work remotely “rarely or never” do so.
Specifically, between January 2022 and February 2023, the number of people who reported working remotely “some or most of their time” rose from 35% to 41%, while those who “rarely or never” work from home increased by only one percent (11-12%).
While the findings suggest a decline in full-time remote work arrangements, the survey also revealed that remote work is still in high demand. This phase could be a short-term downturn in a longer-term upward trend in the number of people working remote jobs.
Remote Work as a Permanent Trend
A report by Bloomberg highlights a rise in U.S. companies offering remote working options despite larger corporates calling employees back to the office, possibly to attract talent with flexible arrangements that improve work-life balance and satisfaction.
The report found that the number of job postings in major US cities with remote working options was at an all-time high according to the latest research by a team of experts, including Stanford University’s Nicholas Bloom.
Professionals across various fields have realized (or will do so in the future) that they have the luxury of being selective in the type of work environment they choose to engage in.
Numerous industry experts maintain that remote work is a permanent fixture, and companies must adapt to meet the needs of the majority, lest they miss out on retaining highly skilled employees.
What We Think
The data from the Pew survey reflects a temporary decline in full-time remote work, possibly due to companies calling employees back to the office.
However, remote work remains popular, and the high number of job postings offering remote options suggests that it’s a lasting trend. As professionals seek work-life balance and flexibility, companies should continue to embrace remote work options to attract and retain top talent.
Adapting to this new work landscape is essential for long-term success and talent retention in the post-pandemic world.
