Work from home and remote work in Australia - statistics & facts
The COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point for remote work around the globe. Prior to 2020, the opportunity to work at home was a luxury enjoyed by only a few, with workplaces often requiring employees to have exceptional circumstances to be granted even a single day per week at home. The lockdowns and social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic forced countries to adopt new ways of working, and Australia was no exception. Many workers were able to work from home during the pandemic, which helped to limit the spread of the virus, and also helped to alleviate the concern of workers who were worried about attending the office for fear of contracting COVID-19. Since the end of the lockdowns and social distancing in Australia, there has been a large push to get people to return to the office, with many businesses and government agencies enforcing a return-to-office policy. While quite a few workers were originally concerned about returning to the office due to health reasons, now many Australians prefer to work from home to be able to work more flexibly or to choose their own hours.
