The percentage of Americans working primarily from home tripled to over 27 million people during the pandemic. Will the popularity of remote work last?
As questions about the ‘return to the office’ linger, new data from the Census Bureau reveal that the number of people primarily working from home tripled between 2019 and 2021, with a record-high 17.9 percent of Americans working mostly from home.
“Nearly half (48.3%) of workers in the District of Columbia worked from home, the highest percentage of home-based workers among states and state equivalents in 2021.” Other states with high work-from-home rates are Washington, Maryland, Colorado, and Massachusetts, where close to a quarter of workers now work mostly remotely. Correspondingly, commutes have dropped to an average of 25.6 minutes one-way in 2021, two minutes shorter than the average 2019 commute.
Even as COVID-19 fears subside, remote work remains popular with employees and many employers who see advantages in a reduced need for office space and more flexibility in hiring. As technology makes it possible for more industries to shift to remote or hybrid work, the transportation networks, ancillary service industries, and other systems designed around the traditional 9-to-5 commute cycle will have to adapt to the new realities of the post-pandemic city.
FULL STORY: The Number of People Primarily Working From Home Tripled Between 2019 and 2021
How Americans Spend Former Commute Time
Unsurprisingly, American workers whose commutes have been reduced or eliminated by new remote work arrangements are spending more time on rest, leisure, and childcare activities.
New York's Commuter Rail Ridership May Never Reach Pre-Pandemic Levels
Shifting commute patterns and the popularity of remote work could pose an existential threat to the New York City region's commuter rail services.
The Future of Central Business Districts
Urbanist Richard Florida assesses post-pandemic possibilities for neighborhoods that once relied on 9-to-5 workers.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie