2019 Remote IT Workers Stats: 10 Facts Companies Should Know

Times are a-changing'. Remote work continues to transform traditional working practices in new and unexpected ways. That’s why remote workers statistics can help us better define this trend.

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‍[For a more up-to-date version of this data, please check out our 2021 Remote Work Stats!]

Specifically, we’ve chosen 10 statistics about remote work that will help you see the positive economic and social impacts on both employees and employers. Let’s take a closer look at remote work in numbers.

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Content:

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1. 70% of People Globally Work Remotely at Least Once a Week

Remote work is on the rise. A new study by IWG reveals that 70% of employees globally work remotely at least once a week - and 50% of employees work remotely half the week. This is one of the first studies to survey professionals in 96 different countries and across a range of industries. Statistics fluctuate depending on the country and industry. (For example, remote IT workers are leading the pack.) However, this huge percentage shows that remote work - whether part-time or full-time - is a major trend worldwide.

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2. 53% of Companies are Using Flexible Talent

Over half of companies are using flexible workers, including freelancers and/or temporary workers, compared with three years ago (according to freelance giant Upwork.) Remote work is becoming more commonplace and more in demand. In fact, 6 out of 7 managers believe that dynamic teams composed of remote workers will be the norm in the future. Companies are trying to keep up with this trend by hiring the right remote talent and updating their policies. For many, the benefits of remote work are surpassing in-office models.

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3. 2/3 of Employers Report Increased Productivity for Remote Workers Compared to In-Office Workers

Workers are most productive when free from distraction. For many in-office workers, interruptions such as colleagues or meetings keep them for getting productive work done. In fact, in the U.S., experts estimate that $1.8 trillion is lost every year due to issues with productivity at work. Luckily, 2/3 of companies - especially in the tech industry - are seeing increased productivity by hiring remote workers.

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4. Remote Workers Can Save $7,000 a Year and Employers up to $11,000

Cost savings of remote work versus in-office work benefits both employees and employers. According to new estimates for employees and employers, cost savings are in the thousands of dollars. For remote workers, these savings are related to transit, food, clothing, and childcare. For employers, they include office overhead costs, including rent, supplies, bills, etc. It’s a win-win situation.

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5. Remote Workers Report 82% Reduced Stress

Stress is a major factor in productivity loss. (In fact, estimates put parental stress as costing companies $300 billion a year.) With remote work, employees are less stressed and more productive. A study by PGI shows that 82% of remote workers saw reduced stress. They also report an 80% boost in morale, which is great for engagement and company loyalty.

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6. 57% of the IT Industry in The U.S. is Now Remote

The IT industry has one of the highest percentages of remote work. It takes the #2 spot at 57% remote, second only to the transportation industry at 61%. And remote IT work just keeps growing. According to Gallup, the IT industry continues to lead other industries in terms of full-time remote positions and top paid remote workers. This is great news for IT companies looking to go remote!

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7. 1/3 of Workers Would Change Jobs for Remote Work Opportunities

A 2017 Gallup poll says that 1/3 of workers would change jobs for a more flexible, remote schedule. This suggests that workers, especially younger ones, are seeing remote work as an extra benefit. To recruit talent, remote work is becoming a must-have.

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8. Companies With a Diverse Workforce are 35% More Likely to Outperform a Non-Diverse Workforce

Diverse teams are more productive, according to McKinsey. Creating a remote workforce can help with these initiatives by finding talent from a global pool. In particular, Latin America has become a hot spot for remote IT workers. By getting a diverse remote team, employers will get great talent and boosted productivity.

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9. Software Developer is Within The Top 5 Remote Jobs, With 24% Growth Expected by 2026

Software developers are among the top five most common remote jobs worldwide. In addition, software developer jobs are expected to grow 24% by 2026. Application developer jobs have an even higher projected growth of 31%. These rates are much faster than other professions and show much higher rates of remote work than other industries. This high demand for remote IT work is ideal for companies looking to expand their services.

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10. Dell Plans to Get 50% of its Workforce Remote by 2020

Dell has become a leader in remote IT work. This year, it's among the top 25 companies hiring the most remote workers in 2019. 25% of its global workforce now works remotely full-time or part-time, but Dell hopes to boost this number to 50% by 2020. This trend is happening across the board with IT giants, revealing big-time benefits of remote work for the IT industry.

There’s no denying it: remote work is here to stay. The landscape of remote work is becoming larger and more skilled every year.

As these 10 remote worker statistics show, it’s a win-win for employers and employees across the globe. Top companies, including Amazon and Dell, are changing to the remote working model, with great results.

Will you?

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[For a more up-to-date version of this data, please check out our 2021 Remote Work Stats!]