Since the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it has been estimated that 50% of paid hours were done remotely, compared to just 5% pre-pandemic. While this incredibly sharp rise has subsided into 2021, the data is clear: remote work is here to stay. Whether this is a cultural shift in terms of how people view work now, or companies adapting to the virus, we have to rethink our entire approach of how and where people work.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics conducted a survey from July to September of 2021 asking employers how often their employees worked remotely. There were two key takeaways:
remote workers enjoyed greater flexibility in terms of their work hours, and companies that chose not to or could not offer remote work had to raise wages. This could point towards remote work no longer being a fringe benefit, but a core offering companies could provide.
Appcast offers a whitepaper on the process of recruiting remote workers: Appcast Futurecast, Recruiting and Hiring Workers for Remote Jobs.