• 91% of employees worldwide prefer to work fully or almost completely remotely.
• 14% of the US workforce (approximately 22 million adults) work from home.
• In the US, 58% of white-collar workers prefer working remotely at least three days a week.
• The technology industry has the highest percentage of remote workers, at 67.8%.
• The global video conferencing market is projected to grow from $33.04 billion in 2024 to $60.17 billion by 2032.
• In 2024, video conferencing software has already seen a market penetration of around 66%.
• 78% of remote employees say they are highly engaged compared to 72% working on-site.
• Working from home can increase productivity by 13%, improve work satisfaction, and cut attrition rates by 50%.

Working from home is no longer something a few privileged people do. It’s become the norm for 28% of the workforce worldwide. Remote work has created an entirely new generation of employees, breaking down geographical boundaries, increasing the talent pool, and creating opportunities for workers who previously found working in an office challenging. 

In 2024, the ability to work remotely is a critical factor in employment decisions. With video conferencing and other collaborative technology readily available, the doors are wide open for employees globally to work together from home. 

But do employees and businesses agree that remote work is the best option? And does this style of working enhance productivity, reduce stress, and encourage a positive work-life balance?

With it being such a talking point, we’ve rounded up the 2024 remote work statistics, revealing the current state of play.

Employee Preferences For Remote Work

With so many employees globally preferring to work remotely, this style of work is one that a huge number of people and businesses are embracing. According to a study by Quantum Workplace, 32% of employees prefer to work fully remotely, 41% prefer a hybrid work setup, and just 27% want to work full-time on-site.

In fact, remote work is so important to employees that 52% of men and 60% of women say they would rather quit than return to the office full-time. Additionally, 80% of women and 69% of men consider remote work one of the most important factors when searching for new employment opportunities. 98% of remote workers will also recommend this work style to others, and only 1% cite having a negative experience with it.  

The Biggest Benefits Of Remote Work In 2024

In 2024, there’s more focus on employee well-being and mental health than ever. Remote work is one of the ways that employees are reducing their stress and improving their wellbeing, with men and women agreeing that the ability to work from home:

• Reduces burnout
• Creates flexibility
• Offers more autonomy
• Improves work-life balance
• Enhances time management
• Increases productivity levels

The flexibility of remote work is one of the biggest factors that allow for these stress-busting benefits. A Buffer study of remote employees revealed that 22% found that the biggest benefit of remote work was being able to manage their own time, 19% could choose where they live based on preference rather than work location requirements, and 13% had the freedom to decide where they work.  

Considering the average remote worker saves 72 minutes of commuting time every day, this flexibility is a major plus. It’s also spurred on relocation, with many people moving to quieter towns with lower costs of living and increased quality of life. 

Additionally, most forms of commuting are stressful and costly, making remote work a cheaper option for many.

71% of people also prefer presenting videoconferences to groups virtually, and 67% believe virtual meetings match the productivity levels of in-person events.

Who Is Working Remotely In 2024?

With the tech industry having the highest number of employees working remotely (67.8%), it’s interesting to see how other industries stack up. 

Statista’s 2023 statistics reveal that the agencies and consulting industry is second with 50.6%, followed by the finance and insurance industry with 48.7%. These industries are all well-suited to remote work, and they can easily rely on videoconferencing and online collaboration tools to complete tasks, connect with other workers and clients, and manage projects.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are an abundance of teleworkers in professional and business services (67.4%), educational services (49%), and wholesale trade (39%). This also highlights the fact that remote work is more prevalent in certain industries as it is better suited. 

When it comes to the age group of remote workers, Gen Zers and Millennials between the ages of 24 and 35 are most likely to work remotely. However, younger Gen Zers aged 20 to 24 are the least likely to apply for remote work. 

If we look at gender, 38% of men work remotely full-time and 23% part-time, compared to 30% of women who work full-time and 22% part-time. This means that more men than women work remotely, which correlates with the employment-to-population ratio being higher for men globally. 

Average Remote Salaries In The US In 2024

According to a study by McKinsey, employees who earn higher salaries and hold senior positions work more remotely than those in less senior jobs with lower incomes. 33% of the remote workers surveyed earn over $150,000 a year, and 44% hold senior roles within a company. 

When looking at the average salaries of remote employees in the US, ZipRecruiter reported that in July 2024, remote workers were taking home an average of  $61,178 per year. This works out to $29.41 an hour, over four times the current average minimum wage.

ZipRecruiter also confirmed that the highest annual remote salaries were around $84,500, while the lowest was around $12,000. However, most remote jobs pay between $40,000 and $79,500, depending on seniority and requirements.

Remote Work Is Here To Stay

In 2023, 37% of companies spent some of their budgets upgrading their meeting technology to facilitate remote and hybrid meetings and events. Additionally, 88% of meetings held during the year had at least one participant working remotely.
With video conferencing no longer a novelty but a necessity, the tools for remote participation readily available, and the benefits of remote work abundant, this way of working looks set not just to stay but to continue to gain traction in 2024 and beyond. Reports already show that 71% of companies now allow some form of remote work on a permanent basis, and more will surely follow.