A survey of U.S. workers indicates that in early 2020, prior to the coronavirus outbreak, about 20% worked from home.
May 24, 2021
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A survey of U.S. workers indicates that in early 2020, prior to the coronavirus outbreak, about 20% worked from home. In October 2020, that number had risen to 71%. Many of those workers previously used their personal vehicles for commuting; working from home has thus contributed to an overall decline in vehicle miles and fuel use from 2019 to 2020. When asked if they would want to work from home after the coronavirus outbreak ends, 54% of respondents said “yes.”
Note: Based on a nationwide random sample survey of 10,332 respondents employed part time or full time. Survey conducted Oct. 13 to Oct. 19, 2020. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 1.6 percentage points.
Source: Pew Research Center, “How the Coronavirus Outbreak Has – and Hasn’t – Changed the Way Americans Work,” December 9, 2020.