Working online: the conclusive and compelling research
A growing number of Americans are working from home. Whether self-employed entrepreneurs running small accounting 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 Telework. About 90% of homeworkers say they are happy with their work-life balance, although they tend to work harder 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 higher productivity, lower facility costs, lower 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 largest all-virtual employers in the country, attributes a 30% increase in sales and a 90% reduction in customer complaints to its in-home agents. American Express telecommuters handled 26% more calls and produced 43% more business than their in-office counterparts, Telework said.
Homeworkers often continue to work when they are sick. They can return to work more quickly after pregnancy or surgery. And they can handle personal appointments (cable installer, appliance delivery, teacher consultations, etc.) without missing a full day of work.
In cities like Chicago, Houston, and Seattle, during peak travel times, travelers often need to wait twice as long as normal if they want to be sure of arriving on time. For commuters stuck in traffic every day, 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 the US economy of $78 billion in productivity. Additionally, traffic jams consume 2.9 billion gallons of gasoline and release more than 58 million additional pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year.
Matt Keener http://www.executiveinsweatpants.com gives us conclusive and compelling data on the state of homeworkers. With over 4.5 million freelancers registered on oDesk and 2.5 million registered on Elance, working from home is becoming more and more common. A recent Forrester Research study predicted that nearly 63 million Americans will work remotely by 2016. The increased independence and flexibility of freelancing is calling out to Millennials in droves, but as the fastest-growing segment of the American workforce, workers over 55 are giving them 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 more and more 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 (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 agree that most commercial contractors will work 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 most companies will have mixed teams (online and on-premises workers) within the next decade.
• 76% of companies believe that online workplaces like oDesk solve the dilemma of talent availability.
• 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 a worker online takes an average of 2.8 days, compared to an average of 23.9 days spent hiring a worker on-site.
How viable is online work as a source of full-time income?
Elance Freelancer Statistics (3,000 freelancers surveyed):
• 57% of respondents reported higher earnings; 19% had more than doubled their self-employment income in the last year.
• 67% of respondents expected their income to increase in the following year.
• 42% are being hired for more jobs, despite the difficult economic situation.
• Managing time was cited as the most important aspect of freelancing for 70% of those surveyed, closely followed by being your own boss.
• 62% of freelancers reported working on 2-6 projects at a time.
• 70% of respondents report that 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 21st century e-work trend? 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 world of online work, it helps you find yourself there; then guides you, with specific and practical strategies, tools, and tasks, as you prepare well, establish your own starting point as a web worker, and become highly successful working online.