Report: Number of teleworkers declined in 2010
Decrease in those teleworking due to a combination of factors
From smart phones to iPads, it seems like today’s
technological advances are combining to allow even more people to telework. The
federal government has gotten into the game, too, with the Telework Enhancement
Act, signed last December.
But for the first time since 2003, when official telework
tracking data began, the number of people working remotely at least one day per
month decreased to 26.2 million in 2010, down from 33.7 million in 2008, according to the Telework 2011 WorldatWork study. Factors such as high unemployment,
anxiety surrounding job security and an unawareness of telework options, all
contributed to the dip, the report said.
In spite of the telework decline, the frequency of people who
telework regularly is rising, the study said. It found that 84 percent of
remote workers telecommuted at least one day per week or more. In 2008, that
number was 72 percent. Daily teleworkers increased by five percent from 2008, to
45 percent in 2010.
Other findings included: today’s teleworkers are mostly
40-year-old, male, college graduates, home is still the most common location
for telework, and working remotely is perceived as a “reward” by both employer
and employee.
The report data was collected by The Dieringer Research Group
as well as WorldatWork, a non-profit
organization.
About the Author
Alysha Sideman is the online content producer for Washington Technology.