29 remote work statistics for 2023

Undoubtedly, the way people work today has changed dramatically in the past decade. What was once a dream for many professionals and companies around the world is now their reality. 

Enter…remote work.  

People are now able to work from home and do so effectively, maintaining a better work-life balance and having more time for themselves, which, in many cases, can boost employee engagement and productivity. 

In this article, we’ll take you through interesting hybrid and remote work statistics that are worth knowing to make the most of contemporary work models and understand flexible work arrangements. 

Let’s get started!

Remote workforce statistics

Nowadays, a home office feels like second nature for a high number of people and companies. 

Companies can attract and hire top talent without having to worry about geographical limitations and employees get workplace flexibility, which can lead to higher retention rates and employee productivity. 

Here are some key stats to understand remote workforce dynamics. 

1. 16% of companies worldwide are fully remote. (Source: Owl Labs)

2. 75% of workers globally think that flexible working is the new normal. (Source: IWG)

3. 62% of global workers aged 22 to 65 occasionally work remotely. (Source: Owl Labs)

4. An estimated 56% of employees would choose to work remotely if their employers allowed it. (Source: Global Workplace Analytics)

5. It’s estimated that almost one in four American workers will work remotely by 2025. (Source: Upwork)

6. 4.7 million U.S. employees work remotely at least half the time. (Source: OwlLabs)

7. 21% of employees can’t perform their job remotely. (Source: PwC)

Statistics on the benefits of remote work

If you’ve worked remotely on a full- or part-time basis, then you know just how beneficial remote work can be. 

It boils down to remote employees being able to spend more time with their loved ones, save money and energy by not commuting, and build a flexible schedule, from any work environment they want. 

The following stats back it up.  

Remote workers are reported to be more productive, with 68% experiencing fewer interruptions at home than when working on-site. (Source: FlexJobs)

1. 88% of employees have said that they’re happier when they’re able to work from home. (Source: Owl Labs)

2. 79% of employees would be more loyal to their employers if they offered flexible work options. (Source: FlexJobs)

3. Companies that offer remote work arrangements experience 25% lower employee turnover than those that don’t. (Source: PR Newswire & Owl Lab)

4. 77% of workers report higher productivity levels when working off-site. (Source: CoSo Cloud)

5. 78% of remote employees surveyed in February 2022 said that being able to work from home gave them an improved work-life balance. (Source: Office for National Statistics UK)

6. 55% of employees working remotely reported reduced stress. (Source: CoSo Cloud)

7. 61% of remote workers say their productivity has gone up since working from home. (Source: UpWork)

8. 97% of remote employees say that they would recommend remote work to others. (Source: Buffer)

Statistics about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on remote work

Even though remote work options have been available for more than a decade, as a study by Stanford Graduate School of Business proves, what made an impact and revolutionized remote jobs and remote work opportunities was the recent Covid-19 pandemic. 

There was an increase in telecommuting, along with lower greenhouse gas emissions, as fewer people traveled to work and renting office spaces became, for many companies, unnecessary. 

Here are some statistics that show the impact of coronavirus on the state of remote work. 

1. Pre-pandemic, 52% of workers worked from home at least once per week. (Source: Owl Labs)

2. In the UK, 86% of people who worked from home in April 2020 did so as a result of the pandemic. (Source: Office for National Statistics UK)

3. Post-pandemic, 80% of workers are expected to work from home at least three days per week. (Source: Owl Labs)

Statistics about technology and WFH

Work schedules have been radically changed with remote work arrangements, and flexible new jobs are leaving a mark in the business world. 

But how’s all this possible? How are business owners able to trust their employees and skip in-office work? The key is technology.

Powerful virtual meeting tools and project management software allow remote teams to work better together and make up for the lack of in-person interaction. 

The following stats focus on technology and WFH: 

1. 42% of employees who have been WFH since the pandemic still lack office supplies and tech at home, with 10% reporting inadequate internet access. (Source: Microsoft)

2.  38% said that their employer provides video tech for better hybrid collaboration. (Source: Owl Labs)

3.  28% of company owners worry about not having the right technology tools to support hybrid work. (Source: PwC)

4.  46% of employees say their employer does not help with remote work expenses. (Source: Microsoft)

Statistics about remote work challenges 

Working from home or adopting a hybrid work model undoubtedly comes with plenty of benefits, like fewer distractions (compared to working on-site in an open office) and the ability to better control your workday. However, struggles are also part of the remote game. 

Isolation, miscommunication, and difficulty in maintaining team accountability and a strong company culture are some of the most common challenges for remote teams.

1. The top challenges as a hybrid worker are unplugging after work (27%), difficulties with collaboration (16%), and loneliness (16%). (Source: Buffer)

2.  20% of respondents to the 2021 Work Trend Index study said their employer didn’t care about work-life balance. Plus, 54% felt overworked and 39% felt exhausted. (Source: Microsoft)

3.  36% of executives mentioned that their biggest challenge with hybrid work is the loss of corporate culture. (Source: PwC)

Interesting statistics about the future of remote work

Many companies want to know what the future of remote work looks like and what it might bring to them and their teams. It’s only natural to want to be up-to-date with potential changes and forecasted trends that might affect the way businesses work. 

That’s why, in this final section of our article, we share a couple of remote work trends for the future.

Keep them in mind when making plans for your business. 

1. 74% of professionals expect remote work to be the main work model in the future. (Source: Owl Labs)

2. 22% of workers are expected to still be working on a fully remote basis by 2025. (Source: Owl Labs)

3. 72% of companies are making plans on permanently allowing their employees to get some amount of remote work in the future. (Source: Buffer)

What’s next for remote work?

You’ve heard this before: remote work is here to stay, which means you should be doing your best to facilitate remote team collaboration and build a better remote work culture. 

Two things matter most for that culture: clear communication and effective collaboration (that doesn’t involve tons and tons of video calls). 

How do you make this happen? With modern technology and smart video-conferencing apps like Vowel that go beyond Zoom and Meet to help you 10x the value of your meetings. 

And if you need more ideas on how to make remote work better, our blog has a ton of useful resources. Find them all here!