Have Work Commutes Returned to Pre-Pandemic Norms?
Commutes have returned to pre-pandemic norms for some, but others continue enjoying remote work.
Written by Alexandra Maloney
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
When the
coronavirus
struck the United States two years ago, those who were able to transitioned to working from home. While that came with many challenges, one thing many Americans didn’t miss about going into the office was their commute.Fast forward to today, two years later, and pre-pandemic life is starting to return to the United States—including those long commutes. The 2022
Jerry
State of the American Driver Report found data on exactly how much Americans are commuting now, plus their attitudes about the increased time spent in the car. Americans commute now versus pre-pandemic
According to Jerry original data from the State of the American Driver report, commuting has returned for most Americans to pre-pandemic levels, although not all. The data finds that in 2022, 69% of Americans will commute the same amount for work as they did before the pandemic.
But, 11% of Americans will drive more, mostly because of longer commutes. 20% of Americans will actually commute less than before the pandemic, in large part due to a hybrid work schedule with fewer days in the office.
As it turns out, a lot of people like remote work and hybrid schedules that don’t require them to go into the office. As
Business Insider
points out, beyond virus concerns, working from home might be ideal for parents, or just a way for Americans to save time and money.The cost of commuting isn’t something to be overlooked. Jerry data found commuting cost has increased for some, and 34% of people say that’s because of increased gas prices. Combine that with the free time lost to the car, and remote work might seem appealing to Americans for a variety of reasons.
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Business travel outside commuting has changed
Beyond commuting, the way Americans travel for business has changed since the pandemic as well, and it doesn’t look like it’s returning to normal anytime soon. Jerry data found that 34% of Americans are less likely to travel for business, citing video conferencing platforms as the main reason for the shift.
Another reason for decreased business travel by flight is fear of the coronavirus.
In 2021 travel
, Jerry data found 49% of Americans chose to drive over flying because of the virus. In 2022, 44% of Americans who chose to drive in 2021 said they’d be more open to flying frequently.If an employee has fears of flying due to the coronavirus, can a company really force them to get on a plane for business travel?
But, some Americans enjoy the office culture
MORE: The Best Type of Car Insurance to Get if You Commute Long Distances
Despite the data and justifications for working from home, a small margin of Americans do enjoy the office culture and want to get back to their daily commute and in-person work schedule. Business Insider reported 60% of surveyed working people feel less connected to their coworkers because of remote work.
On top of that,
Forbes
reported some business leaders are resistant to a total remote work shift. This trend is specifically evident in big banks and technology companies.With all this data, we’d love to hear from you. Let us know if you’re returning to the office, or staying permanently remote and why!
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