Per SIA’s Temporary Worker Survey 2024, 58% of temporary workers in computer and mathematical occupations reported working an assignment entirely remotely in 2023, another 28% reported working an assignment partly remotely (a combined 86% partially or completely remote).

The share completing an assignment fully remotely was 63% in 2022 and 74% in 2021, and thus has been on the decline.

While IT still remains ahead of the pack in terms of remote work in 2024, many companies have recently pushed back against fully remote work and have asked workers to come back to the office.

And yet, remote work in tech is on the rise.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has tracked data on “teleworking” since late 2022. As seen in the top graph below, the percent of hours worked remotely in tech roles has actually increased in recent months, and as of September 2024 is in line with its 2022 and 2023 highs.

Hours worked remotely as a percent of total hours worked, computer occupations (BLS)

In September, workers in computer occupations were working remotely in some capacity for 21.9 hours a week. Assuming eight working hours in a day, that equates to roughly 2.7 days a week of WFH in IT.

In short, the crackdown on fully remote has led to more hybrid work, as shown in the next graph. Hybrid is at its highest level (31% over the two-year period).

Percent of workers ‘teleworking’ for some but not all of their hours, computer occupations (BLS)

While power has shifted away from tech workers to an extent, staffing firms and client buyers on the whole still need to offer remote — at least some of the time — to attract the best temporary IT talent.