How Realistic is Your Desire to Work Remotely?

So, you want to work remotely?

Well, the good news is—you’re not alone.

A survey from this year showed that roughly 98% of workers expressed a desire to work remotely at least part of the time, and many job seekers are putting remote/hybrid work options at the top of their non-negotiables list. Needless to say, the desire for remote work is wide-spread, but how realistic is it?

The answer is pretty realistic… but there are some caveats.

The major spike in remote work, sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic, has decreased slightly. According to the Pew Research Center, about 35% of workers currently working jobs that can be done remotely are working from home full-time. This is a decrease from the pandemic high of 55% but still a significant shift when compared to the pre-pandemic number of just 7%.

That said, there are some industries that have embraced working remotely more than others, and depending on what kind of position you’re searching for, you might have a harder time finding a remote job.

Remote Work Across Industries

If you’re looking to start working remotely from home, here are the top five sectors that currently offer the most remote work positions:

1. Computer/IT
2. Marketing
3. Accounting and Finance
4. Project Management
5. Medical and Health

If you don’t currently work in any of these fields, or have no interest in starting a new career path in these sectors, that doesn’t mean you can’t find remote work. You might just have to search a little harder. Keep in mind, remote work options now account for at least 15% of all work opportunities in the US.

In regards to remote nonprofit jobs in particular, the nonprofit world is also embracing this change in the workforce landscape, albeit slowly. In an article for the National Council of Nonprofits, Amy Silver O’Leary stated “it’s important for nonprofits—those that have missions that can accommodate it—to develop the capacity to engage hybrid and remote employees.”

What Position Are You Looking For?

While many people may feel like their job can be done remotely, it’s simply not possible for every laborer to be given the option to work from home. When thinking about what is a remote job, versus what isn’t, it might be helpful to take a look at the list below from Forbes.

Most Common Remote Job Postings of 2022:

1. Accountant
2. Executive Assistant
3. Customer Service Representative
4. Senior Financial Analyst
5. Recruiter
6. Project Manager
7. Technical Writer
8. Product Marketing Manager
9. Customer Success Manager
10. Graphic Designer

Hybrid Vs. Remote

Another thing to consider when trying to find remote work is that there are more than two options—it isn’t just remote vs. in-person work. As of 2023, 28.2% of full-time employees were working with a hybrid model.

If you’re not sure whether you’d rather work fully remote or with a hybrid schedule, it might be time to ask why do you want to work remotely?

Are you looking for a better work-life balance? Because that can be easily accomplished with a hybrid schedule. Alternatively, if you’re suffering from an illness or have a disability that makes in-person work difficult/impossible, then obviously a hybrid model is not the way to go.

Tips For Convincing Your Boss to Let You Work Remotely

There’s been a lot of talk recently about WFH productivity, thanks to a study from economists at MIT and UCLA, which showed remote work could lead to a decrease in productivity by up to 18%.

But don’t let this figure discourage you from asking your boss for a remote or hybrid option. There is still plenty of evidence out there that demonstrates remote workers are clocking in more hours and getting more done. Not only that, but regardless of productivity, research also shows that remote work can increase an employee’s happiness by 20%.

When going in to talk to your boss about working remotely, you’ll want to be prepared. Here are some tips:

1. Show them data that highlights the benefits of WFH
2. Explain why you personally think WFH is the best option for you and the company
3. Offer to work a hybrid schedule first, or do a remote work ‘trial run’

Final Thoughts

If working remotely is really important to you, but you don’t see a path forward at your current job, or are struggling to find opportunities elsewhere, it might be time to reach out to the professionals.

Let the experts at CyberCoders match you with the perfect remote position. Also, in case you didn’t notice, ‘Recruiter’ was the fifth most common remote job posting of 2022. That’s perfect because CyberCoders is hiring! Learn more about our open positions and job search tools on our website.