The Covid-19 pandemic represented a turning point for the world of work, accelerating the shift to remote working. This transition, which began as an immediate response to pandemic restrictions, has proven to be a significant cultural shift in both the United States and Europe.
Statistics and impact of remote working
In the United States, remote work has stabilized around 28% in 2023, highlighting a significant transition from the pre-pandemic share of 7%. This growth reflects a substantial change in employee working habits and expectations. In Europe, the situation is parallel but with regional specificities: according to Eurostat, in 2021, 12,3% of the working population operated remotely, compared to only 5,5% in 2019, marking an increase of 140%.
In France, 29% of workers wanted to work remotely at least once a week in 2021, while in the UK and Italy, this preference was 51% and 50% respectively. Furthermore, the overall percentage of remote jobs in Europe was around 9% in February 2022. Essentially, therefore, double the pre-Covid period.
These data (and these) demonstrate how remote working has become an important and stable component, with a significant impact on how people live and understand work in different parts of the world.
Advantages, challenges, predictions
Trends indicate that remote working will continue to grow and evolve beyond 2025. Technological progress and a generational shift in business leadership are driving this growth. Young people entering the workforce during the pandemic may view remote work as the norm rather than the exception.
On the other hand, remote working offers numerous advantages. For companies, it means reducing operational costs and increasing access to a broader talent pool. For workers, it offers greater flexibility and a better work-life balance.
For this reason it transcends national borders and is shaping a new working environment, more attentive to quality of life and flexibility.
