Automation is slowly taking over jobs historically occupied by human beings. Meanwhile, more Americans are turning to telecommuter jobs for work opportunities.
Telecommuting work has grown by almost 140% since 2005. The telecommuting workforce increased by almost 12% since last year.
Although larger companies are more likely to offer telecommuting opportunities to employees, due to their access to more resources to accomplish such, almost 40% of businesses did.
That is a marked increase from over a half decade ago. The average telecommuter can save over $7,000 by telecommuting, while businesses save over $11,000 per employee.
Americans telecommuting more
About 60% of Americans who have been unemployed for over two years have given up on looking for work. Over 43% have given up looking for work for good.
While current unemployment statistics are low, about 4%, that number doesn’t tell the whole story. Most of the jobs that are occupied or available are low paying, entry-level, or seasonal jobs.
Many people don’t have skills required for newer, digital-age jobs, are too old to attract employer attention, or are too young and inexperienced.
Meanwhile, businesses are being squeezed by the infrastructure shift from brick-and-mortar business to e-commerce and online business. Over 85% of the global population currently shops online. About 80% of Americans do their shopping online.
According to industry experts, e-commerce growth is bound to continue because of convenience. Accordingly, more and more business are embracing telecommuter jobs to save on physical space office costs.
Telecommuting can help businesses save about $80 million in operating expenses.
The American worker is adapting. They are telecommuting more and in a steady fashion.
Since 2015, almost 40% of Americans have telecommuted full-time, part-time, or occasionally. That number has increased by over 10% from the previous decade.
It is also worth noting that less than 10% of Americans had telecommuter jobs in 1995. At least 25% of Americans now telecommute part-time on a continual basis.
Furthermore, more than 90% of American workers would prefer to telecommute from home on a regular basis if they could.
Telecommuter jobs are the workforce of the future
Telecommuting can increase productivity. Millions are lost every year in business profits due office politics and gossip, employee inability to focus, lateness, and traffic.
Over 86% of telecommuting workers say they preferred working at home to increase productivity. About two-thirds of business owners also agree that telecommuting increases business productivity.
Employees also report that telecommuter jobs reduce stress, enhanced their morale, and cut back on work absenteeism.
Telecommuting trends will increase for the foreseeable future. More than 60% of current telecommuting workers would gladly leave their employer’s office to telecommute full-time at the same rate of pay.
About 50% of telecommuting workers on a global scale are looking to increase the amount of telecommuting work that they currently have. Many people are using the telecommuting lifestyle to travel the world, instead of sitting at a cubicle for years or decades upon end.
The number of people working remotely during the typical business week increased from 24% to 31% from 2012 to 2016. Businesses and hiring managers project that almost 40% of their full-time employees will be telecommuting within the next decade.
More businesses are embracing the concept of the project-based telecommuting staff. That is, a workforce connected by common projects through the Internet but separated in the real-world by cities, regions, or continents.
Telecommuting lowers business risk
The advent of the Internet, social media, e-commerce and the decline of brick-and-mortar businesses is aiding the rise of telecommuting.
While the practice is aiding people inclined to work remotely, the financial benefits to businesses can’t be understated. Embracing telecommuting lowers their financial risk incumbent with paying operating costs.
Businesses won’t have to worry about on-site injury lawsuits, on-site business insurance, or employee safety. There won’t be any need to stay compliant with business-related safety, health, or privacy related laws or rules.
Supply chain systems can also be significantly streamlined to adapt to the working of a telecommuting structure. “Work” as we know it is changing in ways that hardly be appreciated, since these changes are happening so fast.
More people look for work on the Internet now, instead of through newspaper wanted ads or through a friend, like decades ago. Over 54% of Americans look for work on online job websites.
About 45% apply for work online over more direct means. Like through a phone or dropping off a hard copy of their resume.
The dawn of the telecommuter jobs era arguably began years ago. It will continue to grow in the future. It is the workforce of the future. That is certain now.
Will it change how people work for the better in the long-term, benefiting employer and employee alike? Only time will tell.
