Telecommuting Statistics

The Latest Telecommuting Statistics

• The number of Americans who worked from home or remotely at least one day per month for their employer (“employee telecommuters”) increased from approximately 12.4 million in 2006 to 17.2 million in 2008. A 39% 2 year increase and 74% increase since 2005. (WorldatWork Telework Trendlines 2009)

• In 2008, nearly nine out of 10 (87 percent) said they telecommuted from home, up from roughly three out of four in 2006. (WorldatWork Telework Trendlines 2009)

• 38% of people who did not currently telecommute said they had job-related tasks that they thought they could perform from home. (WorldatWork Telework Trendlines 2009)

• When asked what portion of their work they could do from home, 29% said they could do less than 20%, 27% said 20-40%, 11% said 40-60%, 9% said 60-80%, and 24% said 80% or more. (WorldatWork Telework Trendlines 2009)

• When asked about their interest in working from home, 35% were very interested, and only 21% said the were not at all interested. (WorldatWork Telework Trendlines 2009)

• Five million employees work from home most of the time, another seven million do so at least once a month.

• 40% of U.S. employees hold jobs that that could be done at home (50 million). (Matthews & Williams 2005—Telework Adoption and Energy Use in Buildings and Transport Sectors in the United States and Japan)

• 40% of federal employees are considered eligible for telework and about 17% do so. In the private sector, 36% of employees work for companies that allow telework and 14% percent do so.  (2008 CDW Telework Study)

• About half of all business are home-based (16 million)
(United States Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy, The Small Business Economy 2007—A Report To the President)

• 42% of U.S. employers say they have allowed staff to work remotely this year—up from just 30% in 2007
(WorldatWork 2008 survey of 2,288 U.S. employers)

• In response to high gas prices, almost one in four employers are planning to offer a telecommuting option for their employees within the next six months (8/08) and 42% already have. (Mercer’s 2008 Gas Price Impact SnapShot™ Survey)

• More frequent telecommuting has been the second highest way employees have dealt with rising fuel prices. It was cited by 33% of workers (46% had increased carpooling, 33% were driving more fuel efficient cars, and 30% are looking for job closer to home). (The Edge Report, 2008 Robert Half International Survey)

• 72% of employees say flexible work arrangements would cause them to choose one job over another. 37% specifically cite telecommuting. (The Edge Report, 2008 Robert Half International Survey)

• Gen Y’ers are more difficult to recruit (as reported by 56% of hiring managers) and to retain (as reported by 64% of hiring managers) but they are particularly attracted flexible work arrangements (rating among benefits as an * on a 10 scale as impact on overall job satisfaction) (The Edge Report, 2008 Robert Half International Survey)

• 25% of employers plan to offer telecommuting as an option for retiring Boomers. (2008 Robert Half International Survey)

• 29% have begun offering telecommuting as a way to improve staff retention rates in the last 12 months. (2008 Robert Half International Survey)

Teleworker Profile—including self employed and road warriers

(from WorldatWork Telework Trendlines 2009)

Gender
61% male, 39% female

Age
Age 18-34 = 42%
Age 35-54 = 48%
Age 55+ = 8%
Mean Age = 40.3, Median Age = 38

Education:
High School or less = 23%
Some College or Vocational Training = 28%
College Graduate = 50%
Post Graduate Degree = 15%

Household Income
Under $40,000 = 10%
$40-75,000 = 32%
>$75,000 = 52%

For a round-up of the statistics and findings of over 250 studies on telework and related topics, visit our pros and cons of telecommuting for employees, employers, and the community page.

All roads point to telework.

As a nation, it’s time to make the road less traveled, our way to work.

* Statistical information contained herein comes from a wide range of studies. For additional information reporters on assignment can email info-at-undress4success-dot-com. Please let us know what publication you represent, the nature of the article, your timeframe, and the estimated date of publication and we’ll help if we can. If you’re under a tight deadline, please call 760-703-0377.