HM4E inputs. More data at the link, outstanding input.
globalworkplaceanalytics.com
Please cite GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics.com when you use this dataReporters: We are constantly updating our database of over 4,000 documents on telework/telecommuting, alternative workplace strategies, workplace flexibility, and employee wellness/and wellbeing ROI. Please call or email kate[at]globalworkplaceanalytics.com, 760-703-0377 (Pacific Time) for the latest data or for additional information.
Updated September 29, 2015Below are the latest statistics on the work-at-home/telework population in the U.S. based on an analysis of 2005-2014 American Community Survey (US Census Bureau) data conducted by GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics.com. Similar state and county data is available through 2013, but 2014 numbers for states and counties won’t be available until late in 2015.
The American Community Survey (ACS) derives its data on work-at-home from the question: What was you primary means of transportation to work during the survey week? “Worked at home” is one of the choices. Therefore, all we know about this population is that they worked primarily at home, which we assume means at least half-time.
Though often used interchangeably, ‘telework’ is defined as the substitution of technology for travel, while telecommuting is more narrowly defined as the substitution of technology for commuter travel. Thus if someone takes work home after being at the office it is considered telework but not telecommuting, and if someone works at home instead of driving to an office they are telecommuting. Both terms were coined by Jack Nilles in the 1970s. Note: many people and organizations are moving away from both terms in favor of distributed work, mobile work, remote work, smart working (UK), and workshifting (Canada).
Overview
While there is no Census Bureau or government produced data provides additional granularity on the frequency of telework, Global Workplace Analytics’ research finds that:
- 50% of the US workforce holds a job that is compatible with at least partial telework and approximately 20-25% of the workforce teleworks at some frequency
- 80% to 90% of the US workforce says they would like to telework at least part time. Two to three days a week seems to be the sweet spot that allows for a balance of concentrative work (at home) and collaborative work (at the office).
- Fortune 1000 companies around the globe are entirely revamping their space around the fact that employees are already mobile. Studies repeatedly show they are not at their desk 50-60% of the time.
Summary of trends:- Regular work-at-home, among the non-self-employed population, has grown by 103% since 2005 and 6.5% in 2014. This represents the largest year over year increase since before the recession.
- 3.7 million employees (2.5% of the workforce) now work from home at least half the time.
- The employee population as a whole grew by 1.8% from 2013 to 2014, while employees who telecommuter population grew 6.5%.
Note: It is critical to separate the self-employed from the employee telework and telecommuter population for the purpose of understanding trends as they are moving in opposite directions. About 22% of the self-employed population work primarily from home. That population (self-employed and home-based) declined by 2.6% since 2005. The loss was entirely attributable to non-incorporated home-based businesses (which declined by 9.8%). The self-employed incorporated home-based business population grew by |
