The number of people working from home in the UK on a regular basis is at its highest-ever level at 4.2 million.<br><br>
According to the latest information from the Office for National
Statistics (ONS), 14% of Britain’s workforce is comprised of those who
work from home. This is up from 11% in 1998, when the ONS began keeping
such records.<br><br>
In the past decade, the combination of long, expensive commutes and
rapid technological advances has made working from home an attractive
option for many people. <br><br>
The statistics also indicate that those working from home tend to hold
highly-skilled jobs, with 15% working as senior officials or managers.
The figures also reveal that 35% of home workers hold professional or
associate professional posts and almost 24% work in skilled trades; in
fact, many of the UK’s most highly-skilled workers are now working from
home.<br><br>
“The key factors behind the increase are digital technologies, which
allow people to work at home or to use home as a base; the rise of
self-employment, with people establishing offices at home; and an ageing
population, with more older people seeking to avoid the daily commute
and the stresses of office life,” explained John Philpott, director of
The Jobs Economist.<br><br><h2>
Self-employed individuals are also among the ranks of those who are most likely to work from home.</h2>
<br>
Mr Philpott added that while working from home will inevitably become
even more common as a result of the UK’s flexible employment landscape,
working in factories, offices and on service front lines will continue
to be the norm for the majority of people.