Trends in the Work From Home Industry

In 2019 analysts expected the field of telecommuting to expand. The demand for remote work is growing, so the number of people choosing remote employment increased. And by 2020, the more tech-savvy generations are becoming the nation's least to race to Corporate America but are choosing less traditional forms of work. More self-paced-based learning and employment is a trend that is catching fire, with 2020 being the leadoff year.

Specialized Fields Are a Must

Customer service or Customer Support Representative as its official title is one of the tops in in-demand remote-work jobs available. Now more than ever, companies are paying top dollar for their service reps to work away from the "office." One main draw for people who specialize in this field is finding office politics far too distracting. And can easily focus on taking care of the customer without comparing themselves to the person in the cubicle.

Transcribers earn, on average, $54,000 per year; this is a good position if you are great at typing. One primary specialty of transcribers is that of medical or legal. Suffice it to say that the payment will be much lower if you are a beginner in this field.

Social media consultant. Let's face it. Being able to navigate the world of social media is a must for any new small business owner. Sometimes, people do not have the necessary time to spend on social media sites like Pinterest, Facebook, or Instagram. To keep up with the Kardashians or whoever the latest social media climber/newcomer might be. Enter (place your name here): Social Media maven. Employees with this talent earn, on average, $59,000 annually.

Why is it a Matter of Trust?

With the field of remote workers wide open, the possibilities are endless. Though the remote employer's problem has trended downward, to allow remote work or not is the issue. What would be ideal for the remote employer is to have an employee who spends their "billable hours" working. Consider this: a remote worker starts out the day on the clock at their desk. But then school calls and their son; we'll call him "Jonny." He has an anxiety attack and needs to come home right away and off to school to pick up Jonny the parent goes. The remote worker now has to spend a portion of the day getting Jonny back on the mend and attempting to put in hours for work and does a reasonably decent job. But imagine how much better the outcome would have been if the remote worker's full attention would have been more focused on the action of work? Here is just one scenario that gives pause to any work-from-home employer.

The Numbers are Growing

The desire to work remotely is on the rise, and according to the US census in 2016, roughly 6 million people, or 4.6% of the working population, worked from home. In 2017 according to the US Census, approximately 7 million people, or 4.7% of the populated workforce, worked from home, that's nearly 1 million more than the previous year. In 2018, analysts expected a higher margin, perhaps 5.2% (but the data has not been made public, as of this posting).

What is trending these numbers higher? Again, you have to look at what is happening in the American Family. More often than not, it is a matter of economics. It is becoming more and more economical for people to work from home. Less commuting, saving on gas, as some families can no longer afford two cars and a home.

It could even be that most people are desiring to be comfortable while working. That fact alone could mean more productivity for the remote employer. And now working from home has become easier than ever. Technology is expanding, with cable companies increasing the speeds of bandwidth for faster internet connections. And companies are expanding to include remote workers as a part of their workforce. In general, being self-employed is a growing trend, and working from home or home-based businesses are now a large part of that trend.

Many people wonder what are "home-based businesses?" Simply put, they are businesses that do not require brick and mortar or self-contained spaces such as malls or outlets. Moreover, these businesses run from anywhere, your home, or even the nearest coffee shop. Think internet-based. You can offer a product or service, but is it run from your computer. If your business is more of a "hands-on" type business, you can also have a mobile location, such as a food truck or pet grooming service.

Why Home-based is Growing

For some, the biggest draw for running a home-based business is that there tend to be fewer overhead expenses. They also tend to have a "set-up and go" formation. They also require fewer people to run it — a "mom-and-pop" with a modern twist. One other draw is that most people consider it a "side-hustle" with the potential to become their permanent career of choice. The flexible hours make it easy to balance work and home life.

Taking heed as the work from a home-based business are real businesses requiring a great deal of self-discipline and ambition. The person running it will still need a support system, and one still needs to have a head for business so-to-speak. And most of all, be prepared to handle the feelings of isolation that running a home-based business can sometimes cause.

The opportunities within the remote-work arena have grown in the past few years. And are as common as any other type of employment. So much so that there are now employment marketers geared explicitly toward reaching this market. In 2018 remote work has become an actual "industry." So, one is left to wonder, how will this new-found industry impact the commerce business model? Some possibilities are that companies will update the training for this industry. The employer's expectation for digital skills may arise. And of course, governments will want to get in on the action, and the regulations galore will take hold. But for now, this remains an almost boundary-less industry, and most of us work from homers are incredibly happy with that; thank you.

~By Sandra Redmond~