US Work-From-Home Consumer Insights

Work From Home Consumer Insights

Working from home became a major trend at onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some individuals – mostly in the knowledge economy – had already been working from home offices, many more shifted to remote work in March 2020. Some have stayed home since, while others have returned to their offices on a full- or part-time basis. Additionally, the workforce has changed; in some cases, workers moved from jobs that could only be done in person to those that had more remote potential.

Changes in where and how we work affect many facets of the US economy, from obvious sectors like commercial real estate to the ways that commuting (or not) changes where and how workers spend their money. Consequently, an investigation into consumer trends in this area can give insight to marketing and product development opportunities.

This report contains analysis and data-based discussions of work from home trends, including a look at COVID-19 pandemic concerns and wellness impacts, attitudes about work, demographic trends, and other consumer insights.

This report includes analysis, data, trends, and customized cross tabs using two survey resources:

• Data from The Freedonia Group’s proprietary national online surveys conducted from February 2021, June 2021, August 2021, October-November 2021, November-December 2021, February 2022, May 2022, August 2022 and December 2022
  
• Data from syndicated national consumer survey results from MRI-Simmons’ Fall 2016-2022 Reports
  

Study Description

This study examines consumer insights and trends in the US regarding work-from-home or remote-work activity. Survey data capture insights starting in mid-2020 and through to the end of 2022, as well as display historical trends in consumer sentiment back to 2016. Survey responses in this study reveal consumer sentiment regarding work in general, as well as how the COVID-19 pandemic shaped and continues to shape working trends, which workers are most likely to be working at home, and future plans about work. Longer term analysis of working locations and attitudes about work are also included. Consumers opinion on the topics above is analyzed by age group, generation, urban/suburban/rural location, full- or part-time employment status, primary work location (home or office), household income, and job function. This report also includes macro-level data (2012-2027) showing the size and growth of the US resident population, civilian labor force, unemployment rates, and employment in various sectors to provide context for the potential population impacted by these trends.