Remote work has become increasingly popular in recent years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this trend. In 2023, 12.7% of full-time employees work from home, while 28.2% work a hybrid model. And it's only expected to grow in the future.

Here are some interesting statistics and facts about remote work:

1. Remote workers are more productive. A study by Stanford University found that remote workers are 13% more productive than their in-office counterparts.

2. Remote workers are happier and healthier. A study by Owl Labs found that 82% of remote workers are happier with their jobs than in-office workers. And a study by Buffer found that 94% of remote workers say their job has a positive impact on their mental health.

3. Remote workers save money. Remote workers save an average of $11,000 per year on commuting costs, childcare costs, and other work-related expenses.

4. Remote workers are more likely to stay with their jobs. A study by FlexJobs found that 77% of remote workers are more likely to stay with their current job than in-office workers.

5. Remote workers are more likely to be engaged in their work. A study by Gallup found that 53% of remote workers are highly engaged in their work, compared to 33% of in-office workers.

6. Remote workers are more likely to take breaks. A study by Owl Labs found that 81% of remote workers take breaks throughout the day, compared to 63% of in-office workers.

7. Remote workers are more likely to work outside of normal business hours. A study by Upwork found that 40% of remote workers work outside of normal business hours, compared to 27% of in-office workers.

8. Remote workers are more likely to work from multiple locations. A study by Global Workplace Analytics found that 58% of remote workers work from multiple locations throughout the week, compared to 13% of in-office workers.

9. Remote workers are more likely to be pet-friendly. A study by Rover found that 71% of remote workers have pets, compared to 55% of in-office workers.

Here are some other interesting facts about remote work:

1. The first remote job was created in 1973 by Jack Nilles, a NASA engineer.

2. The term "telecommute" was first coined in 1979 by Jack Nilles.

3. The first major company to allow remote work was IBM in the 1980s.

4. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the growth of remote work by 10 years.

5. It is estimated that 25% of all jobs in the US will be remote by 2025.

6. The most popular remote jobs are in technology, customer service, and sales.

7. The average remote worker is 39 years old and has 10 years of work experience.

8. More than half of remote workers have children under the age of 18.

9. Remote workers are more likely to live in rural areas.

10. The top three reasons people work remotely are flexibility, work-life balance, and cost savings.

Productivity of remote workers

The source for the statistic that remote workers are 13% more productive than their in-office counterparts is a study by Stanford University, published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics. The study, titled "Does Working from Home Work? Evidence from a Chinese Experiment," was conducted by Nicholas A. Bloom, James Liang, John Roberts, and Zhichun Jenny Ying.

The study involved a random experiment with 16,000 employees at a Chinese travel company called Ctrip. Half of the employees were randomly assigned to work from home for nine months, while the other half continued to work in the office. The results of the study showed that the employees who worked from home were 13% more productive than those who worked in the office.

The study also found that the employees who worked from home took fewer breaks and worked longer hours. They were also more likely to stay with the company and less likely to be promoted.

The authors of the study concluded that remote work can be a very effective way to increase employee productivity. They also noted that remote work can have a number of other benefits, such as reducing costs and improving employee morale.

The study has been cited in a number of other studies and articles about remote work. It is considered to be one of the most rigorous and well-designed studies on the topic of remote work productivity.

3 things to double check when hiring remote

Of course hiring remote can add a lot of benefits to your team. But lets face it, not everyone is suitable to work remotely. If you make sure the candidate has these traits, you could have a great collaboration with the remote worker.

1. Good communication skills

If the remote worker does not have good communication and collaboration skills. It can be more challenging to communicate and collaborate with remote workers than with in-house workers, so it is important for remote workers to have good communication and collaboration skills.

2. Has self-motivation

The remote worker is not self-motivated and disciplined. It can be more challenging to stay focused and motivated when working remotely, especially if the remote worker does not have a good work ethic.

3. Needs less management

If the remote worker is in need of a lot of support from their management team, this can become a challenge remote not only for the worker, but for the management. Remote workers need to be supported by their manager and team in order to be successful especially in the beginning of their careeer. If you think this is the case, perhaps it is not the correct fit for the role.

Benefits of remote work for employers:

Reduced costs. Employers can save money on office space, utilities, and other overhead costs when employees work remotely.

Increased productivity. Remote workers are often more productive than in-office workers because they have fewer distractions and can work in a more comfortable environment.

Access to a wider talent pool. Employers can hire remote workers from anywhere in the world, which gives them access to a wider pool of qualified candidates.

Reduced absenteeism. Remote workers are less likely to take sick days because they don't have to commute or deal with other office-related stressors.