One hundred years ago, people probably never could have imagined the modern office — professionals typing away at computers, videoconferencing with colleagues around the world with just a few clicks, and sending documents digitally. It’s hard to say exactly what the careers of the future will be because of technology continually evolving. But one thing is certain: the job opportunities in the future will require skilled professionals who have a blend of both soft and hard skills.
One place where this is evident is in remote work. Although online jobs certainly existed well before the COVID-19 pandemic, the necessity of social distancing for the sake of saving lives catapulted remote work arrangements into unprecedented usage and popularity. In fact, prior to the pandemic, about 15% of workers filled remote jobs. Afterward, an additional 35% of remote workers were added to the economy.1
Although many jobs are expected to always require an in-person presence (e.g., doctors, veterinarians and electricians), there are quite a few that can be performed partially or entirely online from a remote location. This can offer considerable benefits to the workforce. In fact, 60% of professionals who began working remotely during the pandemic reported better work-life balance.1
Remote work can also offer benefits for organizations across various industries. This includes tech-based collaboration tools that may allow for streamlined task management, project management, file sharing, brainstorming and other common necessities of the modern workplace.1 Remote work arrangements can also benefit companies by:2
- Enabling access to diverse talent regardless of geographic location
- Reducing overhead (remote offices cost far less to maintain)
- Enhancing employee retention
