Zippia Poll: Half of American workers would rather work from home forever

Key Findings

Two-thirds of American workers have the option to work from home.
75% of baby boomers prefer a permanent remote work arrangement.
Half of all Americans wish to continue working from home long-term.

The shift to remote work has transformed the American workforce, with a significant number of employees opting for this flexible arrangement.

As businesses adapt to new norms, the trend towards remote work is expected to persist. Companies have developed guidelines, enhancing support for employees, while workers have embraced the benefits of remote arrangements.

In a recent survey of over 500 Americans, we explored how the evolution of work is shaping employee preferences and whether this trend will have lasting implications for the future of work.

Zippia found that more than half of American workers prefer working from home and wish to maintain this flexibility even after the pandemic has subsided, citing considerable time and cost savings.

Here are further insights from Zippia’s survey:

Summary Of Findings

Half of millennials prefer a permanent remote work arrangement.
While many employees report increased productivity, older workers feel notably more productive when working from home compared to younger colleagues.
51% would choose full-time remote work over traditional office settings.
More than half of Americans don’t believe their employers will adopt permanent remote work policies.
17% of Americans are optimistic that their jobs will allow them to work remotely after the pandemic.

HOW TO FIND REMOTE, ONLINE, AND GIG WORK IN 2026

Closing Thoughts On Remote Work in 2026

The transition to remote work has initiated a large-scale experiment that many Americans have found beneficial, with numerous employees reporting increased productivity when working from home.

While it remains to be seen how this will reshape the American workforce permanently, there is a growing sense of optimism that organizations will embrace flexible work arrangements moving forward.

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Author

Kathy Morris

Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.

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