The number of Americans return to offices has steadily increased since the peak of the pandemic. But it’s starting to fall back, according to data from LinkedIn.
- The big picture: It’s a sign that the balance between remote and in-person work will continue to swing over time.
What is happening:
- Americans who have the option of working from home might do so to avoid paying for public transit or gas as the economy tightens, says LinkedIn editor George Anders.
- And recent winter storms and cold snaps could deter people from plodding along with daily commutes.
- There are also people who have recently been hired for all-in-person jobs who have discovered upon joining that being onsite five days a week is not necessary. So they turned to hybrid working, says Anders.
The bottom line: Employers want workers back for good, but work is unlikely to ever return to how it was before the pandemic’s massive telecommuting experiment.