36.9 percent of wage and salary workers could work at home in 2024–25

On average, 36.9 percent of wage and salary workers could work at home in 2024–25, compared with 28.8 percent in 2017–18. Among those who worked at home, 32.7 percent did so because of job requirements, 31.3 percent because of a personal preference, and 11.8 percent to coordinate their work schedule with personal or family needs. 

In 2024–25, women who worked from home were more likely to do so because of job requirements (35.1 percent, compared with 30.2 percent of men) and to coordinate their work schedule with personal or family needs (13.6 percent, compared with 10.1 percent). Men were more likely than women to work at home because of a personal preference (33.6 percent, compared with 29.2 percent of women).

When grouped by educational attainment, 37.4 percent of wage and salary workers with a high school diploma and no college who worked from home did so because of job requirements, compared with 33.3 percent of workers with a bachelor's degree and higher and 27.9 percent of workers with some college or associate degree in 2024–25. Personal preference was the main reason 31.5 percent of workers with a bachelor's degree and higher chose to work from home, compared with 29.9 percent of workers with some college or associate degree and 25.3 percent of high school graduates and no college. 

These data are from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS). Data are averages of data collected throughout 2024 and 2025 from a supplement to the ATUS, the 2024–25 Leave and Job Flexibilities Module. Estimates in this news release apply only to a person's sole or main job and exclude self-employed workers. For individuals with more than one job, the main job is the job in which they usually work the most hours. For more information, see Job Flexibilities and Work Schedules — 2024–2025.