There was a time when telecommuting was something that only sales agents did. They’d communicate through a phone or computer while they were on the road to meet clients. Rather than a benefit, it was more of a necessity so they could attend more pitches and dinners.

This concept of telecommuting is outdated.

Many companies today have already embraced remote work. Even employees who work in an office use tools like document sharing, chat programs, video conferencing and email management to communicate and collaborate. A large number of people have online jobs that connect them to teams who are halfway around the world.

It seems like we’re naturally gravitating towards remote work, especially among the millennial generation. However, you might be wondering what the future holds for those who have an online job. If you’re someone who’d interested in shifting to a home-based arrangement from a corporate one, you’ll want to make sure that your choice is future-proof.

The Future Is Bright for Remote Work

Online jobs are mutually beneficial for companies and employees alike—to the point that they’ve spawned several trends. These provide insight as to where remote work is headed in the years to come.

Increased usage of remote tools

Discussions about the future of working tend to revolve around the tools that people will be using to perform their jobs. Most of these tools are connected to remote work.

Collaboration apps are particularly popular, and these include programs for file sharing, task managing, chatting, and video conferencing.

Reduced impact on the environment

A greater adoption of working from home can cut back carbon emissions by a lot. There’s increasing awareness about how our actions can affect the planet and how we can minimise our footprint.

This means more organisations are going to support and encourage home-based arrangements for environmental reasons.

Lowered costs per employee

Setting up an office in a fully furnished space requires plenty of money. This means having a virtual workplace is better for the bottom line.

Working remotely is also more affordable for the employee (AKA you). Expenses related to snacks, lunch, work apparel, and commuting adds up. Typically, it’s more pocket-friendly to set up a home office or work from a local cafe.

Condensed work weeks

There’s been an emerging trend among European companies to have a shorter workweek. Many virtual assistants have been testing this concept on their own.

So far, it’s revealed that working four days a week yields that same results as a full five-day workweek at a traditional office job. Younger workers are using the free time to take on side projects or live their best lives.

Added online job opportunities

Many of the jobs of the future can be enhanced by technology. Examples are social media, software development and data analysis.

Even those that require a human touch, e.g. sales, human resources, training and development and customer, can be done better with technological innovations.

These fields are remote-friendly and are expected to see high growth.

Maximised time in the day

Taking on gigs is popular among younger virtual workers because they can work multiple online jobs without being limited by traditional office hours.

For instance, you might be formally employed by a company to work from home. You can set your own schedule to get your tasks done but have time to spare for freelance positions. You can choose jobs with more freedom, per se.

Boosted productivity and happiness

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that those who work from home are happier and more efficient. The absence of commuting reduces stress levels significantly since you don’t have to deal with long lines of traffic.

Flexible online jobs make virtual assistants feel more content so they’re likely to stay with their clients for longer periods, which is great news for employers.

Recognized demand for flexible environments

If you haven’t noticed, there’s been a greater number of co-working spaces opening in the Philippines. These are facilities that are tailored for the comfort and convenience of digital nomads or remote workers. They provide practical amenities like inspirational motifs, coffee and snacks and soundproof meeting rooms.

What This Means for You

Each of the trends above tells much in what the future holds for home-based work. As more professionals demand flexible work arrangements, more businesses are willing to provide them.

Organisations will start to feel the benefits in their balance sheets as they get to afford more people from money they could have spent on office space. This means an influx of online jobs this year and beyond.

If you’ve been planning to shift to a remote job from your corporate position, now is a good time to do so. Remote Workmate can help find a suitable client for you to work for.

We’ll help you set up for maximum productivity. At the same time, we can provide advice on how you can juggle multiple gigs if you would like.