Remote work, for a long time, has been associated with working from the comfort of your house. But remote jobs are not necessarily work-from-home. The COVID-19 pandemic came with some interesting terms, such as digital nomadism and work-from-anywhere trends.
Before the hype, there was 6% of complete workdays in the United States, but as spring came, it dropped down to 50%. Ever since then, there has been a massive decrease in the number of people attending workplaces.
But 2024 has a different image to present before the world. There have been continuous questions like: “Will remote working continue?” or “When will remote jobs end?”
The simple answer to these questions is never. Remote jobs are not just about comfort or flexibility; they are much more than that. Let’s get started on this article and understand how remote work is a never-ending affair.
Remote Productivity: Statistics & Data To Back It Up
- Most U.S. executives predict remote jobs will keep increasing. Full-time office employees are closer to 75.7 at present, which might eventually go down to 72.6% by the end of 2028.
- On the flip side, hybrid employees accounted for 4.1% in 2018, which increased to 15% in 2024. By 2028, we can expect 16.3% hybrid employees.
- Fully remote employees account for 10.2% globally, which is still a lower number. 4 years from now, the number might rise sharply to 11.2% or more.
- One might expect hybrid and remote jobs to increase because there are increasing concerns about safety while commuting or working with 200 people on a single floor.
- Almost 38% of businesses prefer to bring their employees back to the office because they find them more productive in offices. Hence, there will be a constant debate between remote and office jobs.
What Drives Growth In Remote Jobs?
The one thing that we need to understand is that a lot of people aren’t willing to attend the office every day. This global trend is permanent, particularly for jobs that can done easily at home.
There are a few reasons why the question: “will remote working continue” remains prevalent. Check them out here:
Digital Transformation and The Role Of Industry 4.0
Ever since remote work has come into existence, various new concepts have also been introduced. One of them is Industry 4.0, which is a vision revolving around the digital transformation of industries.
It all began with German manufacturing entities to make themselves more competitive and create more value for their consumers.
Industry 4.0 will certainly make a difference in the world of remote jobs. The aid of technology enables individuals to work from anywhere in the world.
The Pandemic Impact
The pandemic certainly had a disturbing impact on the labor markets, forcing people to work remotely. From 2019 to 2021, more than 200 people were laid off from reputed industries.
COVID dramatically increased the necessity of remote jobs, which was nearly impossible before the pandemic. IT jobs can barely think without remote or work-from-anywhere trends.
As industries look forward to a world free from pandemics, remote flexibility has become a common need for everyone.
Increasing Talent Gap
Job turnover had a new wave called “The Great Resignation,” which led to a great scarcity of competent resources in the industry. A few tech employers are highly affected by this.
Realizing the need for talent in a competitive market, people are looking forward to remote jobs. The common mentality is to sit in the comfort of their home, digitize, and do the jobs they always wanted to do.
This certainly creates a talent gap in the work-from-office realm. After the implementation of talent-valued practices, employers are focusing on bridging this gap as soon as possible.
Reducing Costs and Increasing Productivity
Think of this from both the worker’s and the employer’s perspective. Remote jobs cut down electricity bills, ACs are not working all day long, and lights are not turned on in the office.
There is no supply needed in the pantries, washrooms, or at the admin desk. Its not only employers asking will remote working continue but also the employees.
Certainly, the latter also enjoys perks like no commute expenses or spending money on office wear or food. Such advantages have increased the demand for remote jobs.
Inclusion and Diversity
Last but not least, remote jobs certainly foster the growth of a diversified workforce. The HR team can literally recruit people from anywhere, irrespective of their location or language barriers.
Having a diversified workforce is richer than infusing tons of resources in the industry. You’ll be getting so many inclusive opinions and suggestions to take your startup to a newer height.
Recently, a trend has been going on with Human Resources where they want to hire people from different backgrounds. Diversity is promoted, and the best talents are brought to the table.
Surveys Suggesting Remote Job Trends In 2024
The need for flexible jobs has been gaining momentum not only in the U.S. but also in other parts of the world. For example, very recently, the UK government passed a new law for flexible working regulations.
Here, workers will have the liberty to request flexible job options whenever they want to. As per a report by Scoop 2024 Flex, a lot of industries have to realize the advantages of offering flexibility.
From productivity in employees to heightened engagement, there’s so much that comes just with flexibility. As 2024 approaches its end, over two-thirds of US industries will be working remotely.
With the stabilization of hybrid and remote jobs, the numbers will also change- whether it’s remote employees or the cost spent on equipment.
Every organization must keep tabs on employee performance and productivity to check what impacts remote jobs have on them. On the basis of data, a number of them might go back to calling their employees to offices.
But that will not be the case for everyone. Calling back employees to the office isn’t the actual solution because productivity is a mindset. You cannot force somebody to change how they think.
So, whether it’s a work-from-office job, a hybrid, or remote work, there has to be an awareness among employees of their working mentalities.
Is Remote Job Feasible In The World Of Supply Chain- 5 Common Examples?
The pandemic wasn’t bad news just for employees or the job market. Even the supply chain industries have been responding to the disruptions. However, adjustments and innovations have been made to settle things down. Here’s what has changed:
Digitization bringing in more efficiency…
Friend-shoring or reshoring has decreased the efficiency of supply chains. Fortunately, there’s digitization to pace things up. The dependency on human capital has decreased significantly.
As automation keeps soaring, tech industries are developing universal pipelines to fetch the best resources in the game. At the end of the day, what matters is the quality of a job.
Production and Manufacturing are possible…
Jobs like manufacturing as well as production are possible even with remote settings. Instead of reducing productivity, it continues to use a plethora of capabilities and add material value.
Every single step in the manufacturing process needs information, skills, and resources for inputs or outputs. Jobs that are perfect for remote settings are:
- Robotics engineers
- Product managers
- Product architects
- Manufacturing planners
- Supply chain management
- Supply chain operations
Sourcing/Procurement…
Sourcing and procurement are two such supply chain jobs that are looking forward to going remote. In order to have a smooth supply chain management, the biggest requirement is for an extensive infrastructure, and remote jobs can do that. Some common examples are:
- Technology Sourcing
- Global Procurement
- SAP Coordinator
- Procurement Agents or Coordinators
- Sourcing Specialists
- Technical Sourcing
- Strategic Sourcing Management
Distribution
Distribution management is related to overseeing the movement of goods from the supplier to the desired sale point. This overarching term is related to multiple processes like packaging, warehousing and even inventory.
A number of industries combine distribution with logistics for smoother operations. Some common jobs that do this, along with being remote, are distribution managers, distribution supervisors, and contract operations coordinators.
Logistics Specialist
A logistics specialist is involved with dealing with goods, preparing them, and preparing receipts for shipment. They also have to take care of the deliveries and check whether or not it helps organize transaction schedules.
The typical qualification for becoming a logistics specialist is to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business or logistics. Right when someone is opting for the degree, they more or less have an idea of the remote job type.
Concluding Words
So, to answer “Will remote working continue? “ in the most subtle fashion, we will conclude by saying no. Innovation is made for the industry to get better, and so are remote jobs.
Until they continue to provide benefits to both parties, there will be less likeliness of completely shutting off remote work.
There can be changes related to the industrial requirements, and preferences could be given to the best talents. However, none of the work settings will entirely vanish owing to their impeccable importance to society.
Having said that, here’s an end to this guide. Do follow us for more such content.
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