In light of the pandemic, more people than ever before are now working from home, and this has presented a number of surprising benefits and challenges for both workers and employers alike. With things starting to get back to normal in many places, people are now reflecting on their experiences with remote work and considering the future of the business model.

This article aims to shed a light on some of the surprising statistics that have emerged in an attempt to glean some insight into what the future might hold for businesses and their remote employees.  

1. 73% of businesses will have remote workers by 2028

According to a recent study conducted by the team at Upwork, it would seem that most businesses who have tried remote work have found success with the model. As such, more and more businesses are implementing remote work solutions. The trend seems likely to continue in the coming years and decades. 

2. 75% of remote workers report having fewer distractions

After conducting a study with remote workers, FlexJobs recently reported that 75% of their survey respondents reported having fewer distractions while working remotely than they would while working in an office environment alongside their peers. Unfortunately, many people have them is conception that it's much easier to become distracted at home, but the statistics seem to indicate that the opposite is true. 

3. 86% of remote workers say they have less stress

The same study by FlexJobs found that the vast majority of remote workers noticed a significant reduction in their stress levels when working from home compared to when they work in an office environment. Less stress generally results in better results and increased productivity. 

4. 44% of remote employees only take a few weeks off per year

A study conducted by Buffer recently found that although remote workers have virtually unlimited vacation options, they generally only take two or three weeks off throughout the year. Some employers believe that if they allow their employees to work remotely, they will spend more time on vacation, but this doesn't seem to be the case. 

5. Remote work has decreased greenhouse gases by 600,000 vehicles

State of Telecommuting found recently that due to people working from home and not commuting to and from work, there has been a noticeable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions throughout the pandemic. In fact, the reduced emissions are equal to more than half a million vehicles being on the road, so for companies looking to reduce their carbon footprint, remote work might be a great option. 

6. People who work remotely are 24% happier

OwlLabs recently concluded that remote workers are up to 24% happier than their office dwelling counterparts. What's really fascinating about this statistic is that the study respondents indicated that this increase in happiness occurs even if employees only work remotely once per month, suggesting that even some remote workdays can have a noticeable effect on morale and productivity.  

7. 86% of all workers prefer working alone

The good folks over at SurePayroll were surprised to conclude that the huge majority of all workers would prefer to work alone if given a chance. Moreover, the largest portion of respondents also believed themselves to be more productive when working alone. 

Many companies put time, effort, and energy into fostering a team environment, emphasizing teamwork and being a team player. Unfortunately, the fact is that people actually don't like that. Most people would prefer to just get on with their work independently and socialize outside of working hours, or so the study would suggest.  

8. 74% of workers will quit their current job if offered remote work

A Forbes business survey recently revealed a shocking statistic that employers should be aware of. The truth is that most workers would prefer to work remotely from home, where they will have less stress, be happier overall, and benefit from a greater work-life balance. The great news is that remote employees are actually more productive than employees commuting to an office, or so preliminary findings seem to suggest.  

9. 78% of college graduates say they prefer working remotely 

The FlexJobs study reference earlier also took education into account and found that a whopping 78% of college and university graduates prefer to seek work from those employers that allow flexible scheduling and allow for remote work either part or all of the time. Businesses wanting to attract top talent can therefore seem more attractive by incorporating remote work practices. 

10. 76% of entrepreneurs think remote work will become standard

Another recent poll of entrepreneurs and small business owners found that most people expect remote work to become the new normal moving forward. The truth is that it seems to work well in most cases for both the employer and the employee. It will be interesting to see if the trend continues in the years ahead, but there is every reason to believe it will. 

Summary

Although remote work presents a unique set of challenges for both employers and employees, the evidence emerging from the statistics seems to indicate that there are some fantastic benefits to the business model. The most skilled, most qualified employees these days seem to prefer working from home, and it looks as though remote work leads to increased happiness and productivity.

Ofcourse, remote work isn’t always the best solution. There are some business models that aren’t compatible with a remote workforce. That said, time will tell.  But for now, it looks like in most situations; remote work can be a good thing for everyone involved.