A new study by Flatworld Solutions shows that remote work in the US continues to gain momentum in 2025 despite some major companies reviving the orders for a return (RTO). Analyzing telework trends across demographics, industries and regions from 2022 to 2025, this study paints a complex picture of the evolving workforce adapting to distributed work opportunities and challenges.
According to the report, overall telework adoption rose 18.6%, from 19.9% in October 2022 to 23.6% in January 2025. As of early 2025, 12.5% of American workers were telewalkers for several hours, while 11.1% were working remotely full-time. Interest in remote work has also skyrocketed among the public, with Google’s search interest in the term 134% since 2020.
“The exponential jump in remote work adoption reflects more than just a temporary shift. It illustrates a fundamental redefinement of digital transformation in the workplace,” said Israel Paul, Head of Human Resources at Flat World Solutions. “At Flatworld Solutions, we see technology not only as an enabler, but as a strategic asset that drives innovative workforce models.”
Regional and demographic variations
This study highlights significant disparities in telework adoption across the United States. The District of Columbia leads with an adoption rate of 56.5%, while Mississippi is behind at just 4.7%. Other states with high remote work rates include Colorado (31.7%), Massachusetts (29.4%) and Washington (28.5%).
Age and gender also play a role in remote working trends. Workers aged 35-44 led the telework rate at an average of 28.1%, while those over 65 experienced the greatest growth at 54.6% among men in that age group. In contrast, the 16-19 demographic showed the lowest adoption at 2.7%.
“The clear demographic and professional trends in teleworking are restructuring how organizations plan talent strategies,” Paul noted. “For example, significant growth among older workers underscores the key role of an adaptable work environment that drives data-driven insights.”
Occupational and Industry Trends
Remote work remains more common in certain occupations. The survey shows that computer and mathematics jobs are 69.9% at telework rates, followed by business and finance operations (59.2%) and legal roles (52.6%). Media, arts, design and entertainment also received strong adoption at 46.5%.
In terms of industry, professionals and technical services top the charts with an adoption rate of 56.3%, while finance and insurance aren’t far behind 61.7%. The Financial Activities and Information Division also reported high recruitment levels of 55.4% and 49.7%, respectively.
The rise of the global capacity center
The emergence of the Global Capacity Centre (GCCS) is highlighted as a major trend shaping remote work. These virtual and offshore hubs allow multinationals to expand their distributed teams and take advantage of their global talent pool. Google Trends data supports this shift, and there is an interest in searching for Ability Centers that rise from near zero in 2020 to a peak of 100 in January 2025.
“This transformation represents not only an immediate response to remote work needs, but also a strategic change in how companies structure their IT and software services delivery and provide software services for long-term resilience and competitive advantage,” Paul said.
Offices and their challenges
Despite the rise in remote work, some large companies are driving full-time office returns. Amazon, AT&T, and JPMorgan announced five-day office workwork in 2025. However, these policies are not without issues. The survey found that 42% of companies that enforce RTOs experienced more employee exhaustion than expected, while 29% faced recruitment challenges. Approximately 23% of companies plan to implement RTO policies by the end of the year, with 7% delaying implementation until 2026 and beyond.
Security concerns in the remote era
The expansion of remote work has resulted in a surge in work-related fraud. Losses from fraudulent recruitment and gaming challenges fraud have more than tripled since 2020, reaching more than $220 million in reported losses in the first half of 2024.
“With the astonishing rise in employment fraud targeting remote workers and the pushback seen in office returns, it’s clear that protecting the workforce while still being productive is a delicate balance,” Paul said. “The success of this new era is not just about having the right skills. It’s about understanding and supporting the people who use it.”
Methodology
The study utilizes datasets from BLS monthly surveys, Google Trends, and supplementary sources that track telework patterns across regions, age groups, and occupations from early 2025 through 2022. It focuses on new concerns such as growth rates, regional disparities, vulnerability to remote work and a revival of the workforce.
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