The desire for more freedom in where and how to work continues to rise, according to Aquent’s 2022 Future of Work survey.
The findings of Employee Experience 3.0 - A look into the future came from a survey of 3,500 Australian marketing, creative and development talent.
Six out of ten express interest in working as a digital nomad for up to 12 months in the next one to three years.
However, three out of four young professionals voiced concerns about their career progression.
They want to know that they will still be afforded the opportunities that they would get in a traditional office setting.
“No matter how you slice it, the unyielding popularity of remote work means that it is here to stay. This survey is essential in determining how to ensure our remote workers thrive,” said Alex Kenning, managing director at Aquent in Australia.
“With this information, organisations can look toward the future of remote work with confidence and truly cater to the needs of each of their employees.
“Remote work empowers organisations to increase their ability to operate across multiple time zones, tap into skilled talent worldwide, and access a more diverse talent pool.”
While many companies have moved to remote or hybrid work environments since 2020, Aquent’s survey found an increase in the demand for a certain kind of remote work: the digital nomad lifestyle.
Digital nomads work entirely remotely, while travelling to various locations of their choosing, often including international travel for extended periods of time.
This lifestyle is distinct even from a more standard remote work environment due to the transient nature of the desired travel and continues to rise in popularity among workers.
Aquent’s survey reveals that organisations must not only embrace the digital nomad worker, but also have effective processes, support systems, and policies in place to ensure they are hiring and retaining top talent.
The survey found remote workers’ needs are evolving in surprising ways. Workers ranked unlimited vacation fourth when prioritising the importance of various benefits, indicating that other perks have become more appealing.
Younger professionals are most likely to have concerns about their career progression in this environment.
Aquent’s survey shows 77% of 18 to 24-year-olds expressed concern that remote work will restrict their career progression.
This concern decreases with age, with 61% of workers aged 25-40, 56% of those aged 41-55, and 54% of those 56 or older sharing the same concern.
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