New reports solidify what experts have been saying: demand for remote work is livelier than ever.
According to a new analysis from SaaS provider Semrush, remote work job searches grew 300% from July 2021 to July 2022. Inquiries into “remote jobs near me” and “entry-level remote jobs” more than quadrupled year-over-year.
Not only are inquiries up, but another report from Owl Labs and Global Workplace Analytics (GWA) shows that most professionals agree that a remote arrangement would boost their job satisfaction.
However, Semrush’s research shows that the average number of remote positions on job listing websites is just 6.8%, much lower than current levels of demand.
The Owl Labs and GWA report shows that workers who want a full-time remote position grew 8% from this time last year, with 62% agreeing that this arrangement would increase their productivity.
This defies the desires of employers, who are increasingly calling for workers to return to the office. Smaller companies were found to be the most likely to do so, while 70% of medium-sized businesses offered some form of flexible policies.
However, fears over the flexible model still permeates the minds of workers. For over half of respondents, being in the office is the best way to advance their career. Still, 49% of remote workers worry about creating meaningful connections with leaders under this arrangement.
“This new data shows that successful businesses need to present a range of hybrid options and technologies to keep workers happy and productive, as one-size-fits-all remote or in-person policies don’t allow everyone to do their best work,” said Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs.
