WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — The number of people working from home has tripled in three years. Some say it's the efficiency or the convenience, but the numbers say working remotely may be here to stay.
Gemia Frazier-Bonner ditched the commuting, traffic, and demands of a traditional job.
"I didn't really know remote work existed in this capacity like 15 years ago, and it’s all over the place and they're paying you more money,” Frazier-Bonner said.
The work-from-home mom says she made the switch from a Target store to a call center specialist for her safety, its many pros, and flexibility.
"I get to see my kids off to school, I'm here when they get home. Typically, I'm at the computer clicking away all day long,” she said.
Working from home was one of the drastic changes for Americans during the pandemic, but nearly three years later, it’s still a viable option for many.
"You can just get up in the morning, turn on your computer and get right to work and, like I said, that can add up to 17 extra workdays a year, so those efficiency gains and productivity gains are the biggest benefits," Greg George, Director, Center for Economic Analysis at Middle Georgia State University said.
The numbers of remote jobs rose from 9 million people to almost 28 million from 2019 to 2021.
George says more online jobs were created in recent years and there's all the infrastructure in place to support them.
He also says while there are pros, there are cons, too.
"The drawbacks are you lose a little bit of touch with your workgroup, your peers, and social contact with people is important,” George explained.
"I believe that it’s the wave of the future and that it’s here to stay," Frazier- Bonner said.
George says it's estimated that by the end of the year, 25% of jobs will be remote.