A growing number of Americans are working from home. Whether it’s self-employed entrepreneurs running small bookkeeping services or telecommuters for multinational consulting firms, some 30 million of us work from a home office at least once a week. And that number is expected to increase by 63% in the next five years, according to a study by the Telework Research Network.
Kenneth Rapoza, writing for Forbes (02/16/2013), says that approximately three million American professionals never set foot in an office outside their own home and another 54% say they are happier that way. A total of 47% of people who have the option of teleworking are “very satisfied” with their work, compared to 27% of those who do it in the office, according to Teletrabajo. Around 90% of home-based workers say they are happy with their work-life balance, although they tend to work longer and longer.
According to Telework, part-time work at home represents savings of more than $10,000 per employee per year, according to Telework, the result of increased productivity, lower facility costs, reduced absenteeism and lower turnover. Employees save between $1,600 and $6,800 and 15 days of time they once used driving to work or taking public transportation.
More than two-thirds of employers report higher productivity among their telecommuters. Contributing factors include fewer interruptions from colleagues, more effective time management, feelings of empowerment, flexible hours, and often even longer hours. The home office never closes.
Telework Research Network said Best Buy’s average productivity had increased 35% through its flexible work program. British Telecom estimates that productivity increased by 20% through telecommuting. Alpine Access, one of the nation’s largest fully virtual employers, attributes a 30% increase in sales and a 90% reduction in customer complaints to its home agents. Telecommuters at American Express handled 26% more calls and produced 43% more business than their in-office counterparts, Telework said.
Home workers often continue to work when sick. They can return to work more quickly after pregnancy or surgery. And they can handle personal appointments (cable installer, appliance delivery, teacher consultation, etc.) without missing a full day of work.
In cities like Chicago, Houston, and Seattle, during rush hour commuters often need to wait twice as long as normal to ensure they arrive on time. For commuters stuck in traffic every day, the time spent in a car cuts productivity in half. Nationwide, 4.2 billion hours are spent driving in traffic each year, which, according to Telework Research, robs $78 billion in productivity from the US economy. Additionally, traffic jams consume 2.9 billion gallons of gasoline and release more than an additional 58 million pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year.
Matt Keener http://www.executiveinsweatpants.com provides us with conclusive and compelling data on the state of home workers. With over 4.5 million freelancers registered on oDesk and 2.5 million registered on Elance, working from home is becoming more common. A recent Forrester Research study predicted that nearly 63 million Americans will be working remotely by 2016. The increased independence and flexibility of freelancing is calling out Millennials in droves, but as the fastest-growing segment of the American workforce, workers over the age of 55 are getting a run for their money. By 2020, it is estimated that a quarter of American workers will fall into this demographic, with many choosing to freelance or telecommute. Freelancing and telecommuting are becoming increasingly popular with no end in sight. The surveys listed below illustrate just how integral freelancing and telecommuting are becoming in the American workforce.
How many online jobs are there? Are companies hiring online?
oDesk Statistics (the survey included nearly 3,000 companies from around the world):
• 84% of companies see online workers as part of their long-term business strategy and not as a temporary solution.
• 86% of companies surveyed agreed that the majority of commercial contractors will be working online through marketplaces like oDesk by 2020.
• 58% of companies surveyed expected to double their budget for online workers in 2013.
• 94% of companies surveyed felt that most companies will have mixed teams (online and on-site workers) within the next decade.
• 76% of companies believe that online workplaces like oDesk solve the talent availability dilemma.
• 68% of companies agree that “traditional” hiring methods are more stressful compared to hiring workers online due to factors such as salary expectations, difficulty finding local talent, time required, etc
• Hiring an online worker takes an average of 2.8 days, compared to an average of 23.9 days spent hiring an on-premises worker.
How viable is working online as a full-time source of income?
Elance Freelance Statistics (3,000 freelancers surveyed):
• 57% of respondents reported higher income; 19% had more than doubled their self-employment income in the past year.
• 67% of those surveyed expected their income to increase the following year.
• 42% are being hired for more jobs, despite the difficult economic situation.
• Time control was cited as the most important aspect of self-employment for 70% of respondents, closely followed by being the boss.
• 62% of freelancers reported working on 2-6 projects at a time.
• 70% of respondents report they are happy and 79% feel they are more productive as freelancers.
• 32% of freelancers complete all their work through an online platform like Elance or oDesk.
Are you ready to join this dynamic trend of 21st century cyberwork? Take a look at a recently published book, Shifting Gears To Your Career Working Online, (New Cabady Press, April 2015). It takes you into the online world of work, helps you find yourself there; then guides you, with specific, practical strategies, tools, and tasks, as you prepare well, establish your own starting point as a web worker, and become highly successful working online.
