92 Million Jobs to go Remote in Tech Shift
Remote work is poised to become a cornerstone of the future workforce. Despite some objections, the myriad of benefits for employees and employers indicate that this trend is here to stay, writes JUSTICE OKAMGBA
The surge in remote and hybrid work arrangements owes much to technological progress, particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted a swift change in work dynamics.
Before the pandemic, regular office attendance was customary, often requiring employees to be present five days a week.
However, a recent World Economic Forum report forecasts a significant rise in remote employment, estimating 92 million remote jobs by 2030, up from the current 73 million.
This suggests a growing opportunity for individuals to work in environments conducive to their comfort and productivity.
“These new ways of working, if managed effectively, offer benefits,” the white paper titled ‘Realising the Potential of Global Digital Jobs‘ stated.
The World Economic Forum’s executive opinion survey, encompassing the perspectives of over 10,000 executives worldwide, evaluated the availability of skills across different countries.
Advancements in technology, such as cloud storage, video conferencing, and artificial intelligence, are enabling seamless collaboration across borders, expanding opportunities beyond remote work.
The accompanying white paper anticipated a shift where the most skilled individuals for digital roles may not be geographically close to a company’s headquarters, enabling countries with skill gaps to tap into a global talent pool.
Various sectors, including accounting, legal, finance, IT services, healthcare, marketing, advertising, communications, and cybersecurity, were identified as prime candidates for remote work in the white paper
Digital and growth marketing expert Joel Ozue, with over three years of remote work experience, told The PUNCH that the pandemic served as a significant catalyst for remote work adoption.
He noted that the pandemic spurred innovations, such as the emergence of Zoom, a prominent video conferencing platform.
Zoom experienced a remarkable increase in demand, leading to exponential growth in revenue, profits, customer base, and stock price for the company.
Zoom raised its full-year revenue forecast by a third to $1.8bn, nearly tripling its revenue in a single year, the startup said in 2020.
Joel noted, “I concur with the WEC Forum’s forecast of 90 million jobs done remotely by 2030. I believe the number will surpass this projection, and I also see a lot more traditional companies opting for the hybrid model.”
He further revealed that, from his experience, collaborating with teams across Africa, the USA, Europe, and the UAE helped to foster inclusivity and improve one’s interpersonal and communication skills, like remote work.
A Harvard Business School Online survey revealed that while many professionals missed their colleagues and certain aspects of office work, a significant percentage preferred a hybrid schedule or full-time remote work going forward.
The survey indicated that professionals wanted more flexibility in their work arrangements, even after proving their ability to perform and excel while working remotely during the pandemic.
“Many of us have Zoom fatigue,” said the Director of Product Management at HBS Online, Simeen Mohsen. “Yet, despite not being in the office, many professionals still performed well and were even able to grow in their careers. They somehow rose to the occasion and gave it their all, both as individuals and as teams.”
87 per cent of employees will choose a remote work option when offered, according to data from McKinsey’s 2022 American Opportunity Survey.
A seasoned content writer at TechEconomy, Joan Aimuengheuwa, who has been working remotely for the past four years, explained to that the model was a win-win situation for both the employer and the employee.
Aimuengheuwa shared her insights on the advantages of remote work, highlighting how it enhanced her productivity, creativity, and job satisfaction.
With the recent addition of brand management responsibilities, Joan has embraced the multitasking challenge with ease, thanks to the flexibility of remote work.
“Remote work offers a good situation for both employers and employees,” Aimuengheuwa emphasised.
“I can manage my time efficiently, collaborate with experts from anywhere, and maintain a healthy work-life balance, all while delivering top-notch content to our readers.”
Aimuengheuwa also mentioned that the saved commute time and absence of external distractions enable her to “squeeze in extra research or brainstorming sessions,” resulting in “top-notch content” for TechEconomy’s readers.
Furthermore, she noted that remote work facilitates collaboration with subject matter experts and interviews with industry leaders, all from the comfort of their home offices.
Setbacks of remote working
Remote working has its challenges faced by the workers, which directly or indirectly affect the employer. These issues range from personal boundaries and communication to time management and career development obstacles.
The WEF executive survey argues that access to corporate hardware and high-speed internet remains a barrier in some regions.
“One solution for hardware is to allow workers to use their own devices, but in some countries like Nigeria, for example, only 38 per cent of households own a computer.”
According to the World Bank, access to computers and the Internet remains low globally, especially in low-income countries like Nigeria, indicating that about one-third of the global population, equivalent to 2.6 billion people, will be offline in 2023.
In the 177-page report titled ‘Digital Progress and Trends Report’, the World Bank stated that less than 20 per cent of households in Nigeria own a computer.
The bank mentioned that the cost of broadband subscriptions across high- and middle-income countries had been stable since 2020 but had risen significantly in low-income countries.
However, the WEF, in its paper, suggested that government support could help increase computer ownership.
Investing in high-speed internet infrastructure is also crucial, with the report proposing that “public-private partnerships can help mobilise resources and expertise and share the financial burden”.
It also cautions against the risks of downward wage pressure and work-life balance issues for remote workers.
“In order to ensure fair wages on the employer side, it is critical to ensure the global digital workforce is targeted towards attracting talent rather than saving costs,” it advised.
To promote a healthy work-life balance, the report recommended that “promoting an inclusive work environment through initiatives such as career support and encouraging community engagement is decisive for nurturing employee wellbeing and satisfaction”.
According to health economist Alikor Victor, the lack of a reliable power supply in many Nigerian cities is hindering the ability of some individuals to work remotely.
He maintained that a private source of power was a necessity and a major requirement for working from home.
“The cost of a generator set, fuel price, solar equipment, and maintenance is very expensive for a single individual to incur to get official jobs done, mostly when labour in Nigeria is cheap with low remuneration,” he opined.
Managing different time zones in remote work settings may lead to issues, such as asynchronous responses, scheduling conflicts, and difficulties in coordinating projects effectively.
Ozue revealed that adapting to the time zone was a bit challenging for him while working with these companies.
His journey into remote work began during the COVID-19 pandemic when he was forced to adapt to a new way of working.
Initially, he struggled with adapting to different time zones, but he later became more comfortable and adept at managing his schedule and workflow.
The marketing expert shared, “Like any new endeavour, remote work has its challenges. Adapting to different time zones was initially difficult for me, but with time, it became more manageable as I settled into the organisations.”
The founder and CEO of LogiTrak Africa, Stephen Badejo, told The PUNCH that Nigeria was not fully ripe for remote working, as attention should be paid more to onsite working.
According to him, a new business would require the team to assemble and dialogue on how to move the team forward.
“It is important to have teams onsite so that you can communicate the culture and vision effectively and work together to build and grow the business,” Badejo argued.
He reasoned that the only advantage working from home offers is cushioning the effects of the economy on staff monthly salaries.
His company introduced work-from-home options to help employees cope with high living and transportation costs, as salary increases were not feasible at the time.
However, he believed that once the company’s finances improved, employees would return to the office full-time.
“Maybe you can give them incentives and say they should work from home once a week. Like us here, our team works remotely on Wednesdays alone. So, it can also be rotated and all that,” the founder of LogiTrak Africa revealed.
Badejo also expressed doubts about employees’ ability to stay disciplined and productive while working from home, suggesting that a traditional office setup was more effective for his business.
“I don’t like it. One of the reasons we had to work from home is because the cost of living and transportation is high. We can’t increase the staff salary too much yet, so we had to give them a day to work from home,” he added.
Companies spend less
Analysts said many companies and organisations can save significant amounts of money by allowing staff to work from home.
The average business can save around $3,000 per year for every staff member who works remotely for 50 per cent of the week, Global Workplace Analytics noted.
This is because companies with remote workers pay less in overhead costs such as utilities and resources for in-office workspaces.
Organisations can save money on turnover because employees who can work from home tend to stay with the companies that let them do so.
These savings come from reduced rent as well as increased productivity and lower absenteeism and turnover.
A business owner and marketing expert, Jennifer Dublino, said that remote work may save money, but it incurs some costs, at least initially.
“For example, you may need to make infrastructure changes to support remote workers and prepare for remote technical support issues.
“While many solutions exist, you must factor these costs into your budget. You also must consider the software and tools your team will need for efficient remote work, including video conference software and communication tools,” Dublino detailed.
Justice OkamgbaJustice has over three years experience spanning digital and print media. At The PUNCH, he currently covers the automobile sector with special interest in features and industry analysis.
Source: Punch
