Once a niche of “hipster/hippie” freelancers and entrepreneurs, digital nomads have now established themselves as a global force of professional remote workers who seize the opportunity to combine work with travel, making the world their office.
The rise of digital nomadism in the wake of the pandemic has changed the way companies interact with this new breed of workers, redefining what “going to work” means while driving economic and cultural change around the world.
According to one study presented by MBO Partners on August 20 location-independent workers now represent 18.1 million Americans or 11% of the total workforce.
The study examined 6,526 US residents aged 18 and over, including 1,055 current digital nomads.
These figures, which increase by 4.7% annuallyshow that digital nomads can no longer be considered part of a niche, but as a kind of historical work transformation that should be recognized and treated as such.
“Today, leading organizations know they must attract top talent to survive, as well as allow employees to work wherever and whenever they want.” said Miles Everson, CEO of MBO Partners, in a press release.
In fact, the number of digital nomads has increased by as much as 147% over the past five years.
The research also shows that a number of employers are still suspicious of the idea of having their employees work and travel at the same time.
This is reflected in the fact that 14% of digital nomads with “office jobs” hide their living status from their bosses.
Similarly, 22% of remote workers who have been given the “green light” by their managers say their companies have not implemented a digital nomad policy. So if their bosses change, their ability to continue traveling could be at risk.
Everson thinks this uncertainty needs to be addressed: “Implementing formal policies to locate and engage with remote and nomadic workers should be considered standard practice,” he says.
Another interesting finding is that the number of remote workers in ‘traditional’ jobs will have decreased by 2024, while the number of independent workers continues to increase. Apparently, the return-to-office policy imposed by many US companies over the past year could be the reason for this.
Who are they? How much do they earn? And what is their lifestyle?
This research also revealed important insights into who they are, how much they earn, and what their typical lifestyle is. Let’s see.
1. Demographics
It will come as no surprise that digital nomads are predominantly young: 64% belong to the Z and millennial generations.
There are slightly more men than women, with 55% of the participants. The group consists mainly of white people (67%), then we have black people (21%), (11%) Hispanic people and (6%) Asian people.
Their average age is 37 years and – who would have thought it – more than half of them are married or live with a partner.
2. Work and income
Here the research delved further into the data, providing us with valuable information about work and income.
First and foremost, digital nomads really love their work: as many as 79% report high job satisfaction.
However, income is not the same for everyone, as 17% of them earn less than €25,000 annually. So this group often chooses to travel and live in low-income countries and areas to maximize their income. On the other hand, 46% of them earn $75,000 or more.
Their professional activities are more diverse than expected: 19% work in IT, 14% in creative services and 9% in education and training. Other typical roles include sales, PR, finance, consulting and marketing.
3. Challenges and lifestyle
Digital nomads love living an active and dynamic lifestyle, but face a number of significant challenges, including financial stress (27%), homesickness (26%) and concerns about personal safety when traveling to distant countries or unfamiliar places (24 %).
Other issues include time zone differences, with 23% of them reporting this as a problem, and travel burnout (21%).
Do you identify with any of these categories? Let us know in the comments section!
