Key facts
- Working from home has become a permanent fixture, accounting for 26% of US work days.
- Remote work has increased labor participation by 1-2%, potentially boosting GDP by 1-2%.
- WFH is associated with a 5% increase in fertility in the US and Northern Europe.
- US city centers saw 8% less nitrogen dioxide in 2025 than in 2019, reducing deaths by 1,500-3,500 annually.
- City centers face budget shortfalls due to a weaker commercial real estate market.
Working from home, once a fringe benefit, has become a permanent fixture of American professional life, with remote work accounting for approximately 26% of all work days, a significant increase from just 7% in 2019. This shift, accelerated by the pandemic, has fundamentally altered daily routines and societal structures.
Economist Nick Bloom, a leading expert on remote work, notes that this new normal has brought about several lasting impacts. The average American worker saves about 1.5 hours per day by working from home, time that is often reinvested in sleep, exercise, cooking, and parenting. For those in sectors like tech and finance, these savings can amount to three hours per week.
The rise of remote and hybrid jobs has also expanded the labor force. An estimated quarter million more disabled people have entered full-time roles, and women have been better able to balance childcare responsibilities with their careers. Bloom suggests that hybrid work could increase labor participation rates by 1-2%, potentially adding $300 billion to $600 billion to the US GDP.
Furthermore, Bloom's research indicates a slight increase in fertility rates, with people working from home at least one day a week having more babies and planning for more in the future. This trend, though modest at an estimated 5% increase in fertility, is seen as a much-needed boost in regions facing declining birth rates.
The environmental impact has also been notable. Major US city centers experienced an 8% reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels in 2025 compared to 2019, a change linked to improved air quality and an estimated annual decrease of 1,500 to 3,500 deaths. However, city centers have been negatively impacted, with some, like San Francisco, facing significant budget shortfalls attributed to a weakened commercial real estate market and high office vacancy rates.