We’re willing to bet you or someone you know is now working remotely. Perhaps it started during the pandemic, or perhaps it’s a new position you accepted not that long ago.
The bottom line is that working remotely is more common than ever. The primary reason is simple enough to understand: the internet makes it easy – and feasible – for organizations to operate without having personnel under one roof. However, that’s not the only reason more people are working remotely than ever before.
Let’s dive into the details of the rise of the modern remote workforce:
A brief history of working remotely
Working remotely is nothing new. It could be argued people have been working remotely for centuries. For instance, ships at sea typically operated on behalf of companies and governments back home. Colonial settlements of the new world were founded in the name of kings and queens reigning in the old one, with proceeds from agriculture and other enterprise going to fill the coffers back home. Orders and other communications were transmitted back and forth. Even the Apollo astronauts traveling to the moon were arguably working remotely. However, it’s safe to say remote work was a rarity for most of human history. It was only with the advent of the internet that it became more common.
The growing demand for remote workers
The rise of remote workers started sometime around the year 2000. From there, the rate of remote workers steadily increased year after year but remained a relatively small part of the total global workforce. Many organizations that could conceivably operate with remote workers were hesitant to make the switch for one simple reason: if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. In other words, they didn’t want to rock the boat. Then the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, and the boat was rocked for them. Suddenly, thousands of companies that previously resisted remote work were able to make an almost seamless transition.
The role of global employer of record services
The allure of remote work – from the point of view of modern business leaders – is the increased talent pool. Why limit your company’s recruitment to a single region when it’s possible to find skilled professionals around the world? There’s just one problem: labor laws vary from one country to another. The same goes for currencies, customs, and other factors businesses need to consider before hiring workers overseas. The solution – for many – is to rely on global employer of record services to be the boots on the ground when it comes to hiring and managing workers on an international scale. They have the knowledge and resources that most companies lack when it comes to tapping into talent pools overseas.
The role of globalization
Another factor affecting the rise of remote workers is the steady rate of globalization that continues to unfold. Many businesses have no choice but to expand their operations overseas in order to seize on new markets and new partnerships. In doing so, they set themselves up to rely on professionals spread across the globe.
The rise of service-based employment
The vast majority of global jobs are manual in nature, divided into categories such as manufacturing and general labor. But when countries become developed, and their economies evolve, the types of jobs available become increasingly service-based in nature. Generally speaking, most service-based jobs can be done anywhere, rather than the types of jobs that require the worker to be in a precise location.
The future outlook of remote work
It’s safe to say the rate of remote workers is only going to increase as we head deeper into the 21st century. The evolving global economy – combined with advancements in various technologies – will make remote work increasingly practical and accessible. While there will always be demand for traditional hands-on jobs where the worker needs to be in a specific place, these types of jobs will be eliminated one by one due to technological upgrades. Remote work is here to stay and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Everybody knows at least one person working from home. Perhaps it’s you. The rise of remote workers is a sign of the times. As time marches on, remote work will become the standard.
Julie Steinbeck is a freelance writer from Florida. She enjoys writing about business, finance, health, and travel.
