The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally altered the way we work, with remote work now booming. According to a recent survey conducted in 2021, over 75% of workers would gladly sacrifice a pay raise in exchange for the ability to work flexibly more often than before the pandemic.
Despite current macroeconomic circumstances, employee demands for flexibility, value alignment, and a good work-life balance remain unchanged. In fact, 61% of workers would not accept a job if it negatively impacts their work-life balance, as per the Randstad Workmonitor.
Concerns have been raised about the potential impact of remote work on cities. However, recent research from Columbia Business School suggests that the shift to hybrid working is affecting the real estate market, with suburban rents and house prices rising faster than urban locations.
“The pandemic and its aftershocks have changed the real estate investment landscape both for the short- and long-run,” says a researcher. “One of the pandemic’s longest-lasting impacts will be the wider adoption of remote work.”
As remote working continues, it may have a significant impact on equity and debt markets. The pandemic has undeniably changed the way we work, and it appears that the shift to remote work is here to stay.
