As we enter 2023, most American workers prefer remote work. About a quarter of all professional jobs became remote at the end of last year, and that figure is expected to continue to rise this year.

The job service FlexJobs reported a 20% increase in remote job listings in 2022, 8% more than the previous year. Many industries are hiring remote workers today, including healthcare, travel, and accounting. IT still remains a solid option, but unlike the past, is not the only industry for remote work.

Those who are thinking about a career change should feel reassured that remote work will continue to move forward in 2023.
 

Why Remote Work Has Persisted

One of the main reasons that remote work has continued into 2023 is the carry-over effect of COVID-19. Workers recognized the benefits of working at home and many came to recognize the burnout they felt from office jobs.

A second reason is also related to the global pandemic. When wearing a mask or getting vaccinated took on political dimensions, workers felt more pressure from their jobs and became more cynical about the workplace.

A third reason why remote work has persisted is productivity. Employees who work remotely tend to be more productive than when working in an office.

People can focus more without the distraction of other workers visiting them, the need to attend frequent meetings, or deal with office politics. In addition, remote workers do not face long commutes and instead can get right to the task at hand, and usually in more comfortable clothing.

Millennials are particularly interested in remote work and provide another reason why the trend continues. This younger generation tends to place a high value on a quality work environment, flexible schedule, and positive balance between work and life.

Since Millennials make up the largest generational share of the workforce, remote work is likely to persist beyond 2023.
 

Companies Hiring Remote Workers in 2023

Although the Great Resignation appears to be slowing down, employees still have much leverage in the job market.

In 2023, the labor market will have uncertainty, but the current unemployment rate remains at 3.5%, the same as the fall of 2022, while many companies are hiring remote workers.

IT companies still take the lead with remote hiring. Spectrum and Plainsight are among the top technology companies currently hiring. For digital products, Clevertech stands out, as does Toptal, for software engineering. Both are fully remote companies.

The technology giant Google continues to hire a wide range of roles, including content designers and performance analysts.

In the healthcare industry, UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health, Accolade, and Cedar are among the top hirers for remote workers. Roles include data and analytics, operations, and marketing. Billing and claims positions are also high on the list.

Financial services companies like Edward Jones and U.S. Bank are hiring accountants and technical writers. Since education has also shifted online, such employers as Amplify Education and Kaplan are hiring sales and project manager roles.

The large online retailer Amazon is hiring customer service and recruitment workers as well as for video content and human resources positions. Zoom is hiring for product marketing and database administration positions, among others.

The range of companies hiring remote workers is thus wide and gives a boost to chances for a career change.
 

Retention, Recruitment, and Recession in 2023

Companies have also realized that remote or hybrid roles will be important to retain workers.

Hybrid work has increased employee satisfaction and reportedly reduced attrition by 35%. Likewise, the level of workers who quit their jobs still remains higher than before the pandemic.

So, workers have leverage to negotiate a hybrid or remote position with current employers.

With the persistence of remote work, hiring takes on larger geographic dimensions. These hiring practices do not set limits on worker locations. In turn, remote hiring helps with company diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Even with a recession in 2023, remote work figures to continue. A recession could push companies to cut costs by reducing office space and other traditional expenses.

To find out more about remote work and career changes in 2023, visit FreshGigsClub. The new year looks promising for remote workers.