Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Remote work in Spain - statistics & facts
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Remote work. Telecommuting. Working from home or its acronymized version WFH. Many are the terms that have been coined to describe this working format that emerged in the modern era, but only took center stage during 2020 with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. The presence of the World Wide Web in practically all economically developed regions and the high number of professionals involved in service activities across the globe constituted the ideal setup to allow many to work from their homes.
From rare to daily
Before the sharp surge of telecommuting in 2020, teleworking was, however, an asset that only a lucky few could enjoy. 2019 registered very low rates of people working from home in Europe, with Germany and Italy, for example, recording figures of 12.6 percent and 4.7 percent, respectively. Spain registered low rates as well, with only about 8.3 percent of its labor force working from home.
By March 2020, this situation changed very drastically with the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, Spain experienced a substantial increase in the population that worked from home due to a series of restrictions implemented by the Spanish government. In an attempt to curb the high number of infections in the country, these measures included a home lockdown that eliminated all non-essential activities outside the home. As a result of this, nearly two million Spaniards worked from home regularly throughout 2020, which was twice the figure of approximately 951,800 that had been registered the previous year. In 2022, this figured dropped to over 1.3 million.
Who are the remote workers of Spain?
Whether or not a person can work from home depends highly on their level of education, age, and other demographic factors. In Spain, the latest studies point to greater odds of telecommuting for the people that had completed higher education degrees. More than 27 percent of those with a tertiary education could work from home, compared to just 7.4 percent of those with a secondary education. In 2022, the two age groups most likely to work remotely in the Iberian country were those between the ages of 35 and 54, with nearly 14 percent of professionals working from home that year. Location is also a factor, as the Community of Madrid and Catalonia recorded the highest shares of teleworkers in 2022, with shares of 13.2 percent and 8.9 percent, respectively.
Remote working has several benefits for employees. 71 percent of Spanish employees say that remote working saves them time and 64 percent say it saves them money. However, there are also disadvantages, such as an increase in expenses not covered by the company, cited by 34 percent, and emotional detachment from the company and co-workers. With a clear understanding of the advantages and disadvantages, the hybrid work system is the preferred choice of Spaniards in 2023.
From rare to daily
Before the sharp surge of telecommuting in 2020, teleworking was, however, an asset that only a lucky few could enjoy. 2019 registered very low rates of people working from home in Europe, with Germany and Italy, for example, recording figures of 12.6 percent and 4.7 percent, respectively. Spain registered low rates as well, with only about 8.3 percent of its labor force working from home.
By March 2020, this situation changed very drastically with the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, Spain experienced a substantial increase in the population that worked from home due to a series of restrictions implemented by the Spanish government. In an attempt to curb the high number of infections in the country, these measures included a home lockdown that eliminated all non-essential activities outside the home. As a result of this, nearly two million Spaniards worked from home regularly throughout 2020, which was twice the figure of approximately 951,800 that had been registered the previous year. In 2022, this figured dropped to over 1.3 million.
Who are the remote workers of Spain?
Whether or not a person can work from home depends highly on their level of education, age, and other demographic factors. In Spain, the latest studies point to greater odds of telecommuting for the people that had completed higher education degrees. More than 27 percent of those with a tertiary education could work from home, compared to just 7.4 percent of those with a secondary education. In 2022, the two age groups most likely to work remotely in the Iberian country were those between the ages of 35 and 54, with nearly 14 percent of professionals working from home that year. Location is also a factor, as the Community of Madrid and Catalonia recorded the highest shares of teleworkers in 2022, with shares of 13.2 percent and 8.9 percent, respectively.
Remote working has several benefits for employees. 71 percent of Spanish employees say that remote working saves them time and 64 percent say it saves them money. However, there are also disadvantages, such as an increase in expenses not covered by the company, cited by 34 percent, and emotional detachment from the company and co-workers. With a clear understanding of the advantages and disadvantages, the hybrid work system is the preferred choice of Spaniards in 2023.
Catalina Espinosa
,
Jan 20, 2025
Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
