💼 Top part-time remote job categories

Good Morning,

A recent survey asked Central Texans how often they work remotely. Responses were bucketed by county and included overall results as well.

The counties surveyed:

• Travis County: home to Austin, TX

• Williamson County: suburbs north of Austin

• Hays County: suburbs south of Austin

I bring this up because it’s an interesting trend and likely representative of most metropolitan areas in the US. The denser centers of a metro area will have more remote workers, whereas areas further outside the city will have fewer remote workers.

On the surface, you might think that the downtown office clusters would result in a lower percentage of remote workers; that those living in the suburbs would be more likely to work from home.

But it appears the nature of the jobs found downtown and in the suburbs are a factor; an individual working in a downtown office is very likely working on a laptop that they can (in theory) use to work from anywhere else.

And there’s simply a higher percentage of laptop jobs found in dense city centers than in suburbs.

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Need to Know

🚀 WFH powers productivity
Sometimes I read comprehensive remote work think pieces and get that whole “inject this into my veins” feeling. Nick Bloom, the world’s most prominent economist studying remote work, published one of these pieces for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last week.

He shares that the rise of remote work has contributed to productivity gains globally, primarily by reducing commute times and enabling more flexible work schedules. That said, whether remote work works for particular organizations or not is still heavily dependent on proper management practices and support.

So even in cases where the WFH impact is neutral on organizations, it’s still a net positive for (1) individuals, and (2) the economy.

Further, remote work has expanded the labor market by making it easier for people with disabilities or caregiving responsibilities to participate.

Patents for technologies that support WFH have nearly doubled since 2020, so it’s likely that the systems in place to support remote work will grow much stronger in the coming years.

And another fun fact: traffic speeds during morning commutes are now 2-3MPH faster because there’s less traffic, which means (all else equal) people are able to have slightly shorter commute times. (IMF)

👩🏻‍💻 More third spaces
A company called Switchyards runs “neighborhood work clubs” across the southeastern US and is about to open up a new one in Asheville, NC. These coworking spaces are especially appealing for remote workers, since they have a dynamic selection of work areas to move between.

What seems to make these different from other coworking spaces is that they took characteristics of coffee shops, hotel lobbies, and college libraries — all three great places to work from — and fused them into the Switchyards concept.

Plus, it sounds like they have plenty of space for heads-down or quiet work. One of the complaints I’ve often had with coworking spaces is the lack of space (or accessibility to space) where you can take phone calls without bothering those around you; it appears Switchyards has accounted for that.

Looking forward to seeing more “third spaces” like this, and I wouldn’t mind seeing Tavani’s vision become a reality. (WLOS News)

💼 Top 10 part-time remote job categories
These career categories were ranked the highest by number of job openings from January to July 2024:

• Education and training

• Medical and health

• Computer and IT

• Bilingual

• Customer service

• Administrative

• Communications

• Accounting and finance

• Project management

• Marketing

In what has become a very difficult job market, especially for jobs with location flexibility, finding part-time options in these categories could be more viable for many job seekers. (Forbes)

🏢 RTO is always unfair
We know that return-to-office mandates are unwanted by most — and in this article, it’s spelled out that there really isn’t any way to say they’re fair for employees.

Ultimately, RTO mandates are only used when management believes they will benefit the company. The “culture improvements,” sunk costs into real estate, attempts to trim headcount without firing anyone, or need to assert power all have negative impacts on employees in various ways.

And one of the worst parts about RTO is that these mandates disproportionately affect women, caregivers, and those with disabilities. The flexibility offered by remote work improves the lives of many, but is necessary for some, so forcing people back into offices could have a more detrimental impact than expected as a result. (Business Insider)

✈️ Nomad hush trip packages
In a survey of American digital nomads, 36% said they expect to spend more time traveling in the U.S. than abroad, and 14% said their employer doesn’t know they travel while working.

And since so many more US workers have the ability to work from anywhere, hotels are finding new ways to cater to them. Enter: “hush trip” packages.

This writer went to the AC Hotel Clearwater Beach and signed up for a hush trip, as outlined on the AC Hotel site here.

The article expands on the amenities (bullets directly quoted below):

• Worker’s welcome packet: After arriving, guests receive a worker’s welcome packet, which includes “a portable charging dock, printing credits, a branded notepad, an eye mask for rest, lavender sachets for relaxation,” and a custom door hanger. The portable charging dock and door hanger were the most useful, the latter of which prevented awkward interruptions during Zoom calls thanks to the note on it that read, “Hush. Working ‘from home.’”

• Dedicated coworking space: Digital nomad guests “have access to a dedicated coworking space in [the] AC Business Center, [which is] equipped with essential amenities” for productivity.  

• AC Media Salon: Guests can enjoy “priority access to the AC Media Salon for virtual meetings and technology needs (based on availability).”

• Refreshment concierge: If you ever wished you had a helper who showed up periodically to bring you coffee and water during the mid-afternoon slump, this is your chance. 

• Complimentary drink voucher: Free drinks after work while you lounge by the pool or check out the ocean are the best for happy hour.

• Promotional offer: Digital nomads receive “a 10% discount on stays of three or more weekday nights.”

What a great package. Just like Switchyards, these hospitality groups are beginning to find new ways to serve remote professionals, and with these concepts in place there’s a bright, flexible future ahead for remote workers. (Success.com)

Stuff We Like

🤝 23 ways to be a great manager
Michael Girdley writes a wide-ranging business newsletter that I enjoy reading, and on Saturday he wrote about the habits of great managers. Some favorites: they share the big picture, they speak last, and they support employees’ career journeys. (Girdley.com)

📝 Resume tips for remote jobs
This career expert says that if you’re applying for remote jobs, it’s especially important to highlight in your resume that you have communication skills, organization skills, and flexibility. (CNBC)

💪 5 apps for remote productivity
This article dives into why Notion, Krisp, LifeAt, Freedom, and Moodfit can specifically help remote workers work more efficiently. (Make Use Of)