Dr. Michael Hicks, Economist FROM Ball State University revealed that in 2019, fewer than 5% of Americans engaged in remote work for at least one to two days a week.
This figure has since skyrocketed, with nearly 38 million individuals now working entirely remotely and an additional 32-33 million adopting a part-time remote work schedule (one to four days a week).
According to a study conducted by Forbes Advisor, 16% of companies nationwide have transitioned to a "fully remote" operational model, relinquishing the need for physical office spaces.Dr. Hicks emphasized that Indiana has witnessed a remarkable shift, moving from “60,000 or fewer” remote workers in 2019 to well over a million Hoosiers now working remotely for at least one day from home, accounting for approximately 31% of the workforce.
Dr. Hicks asserts that the prevalence of hybrid and remote work is poised to endure in both the United States and Indiana.
He further predicts that over the next five to ten years, working from home will become the predominant mode of work, especially as baby boomers and Gen X employees retire. It wouldn’t surprise him if at least 2/3 of the Hoosier economy is working remotely, at least part of the time.
