The 2024 election results stand to boost remote work—but how?

With only a few hours left before we find out the US Election results, both workers and businesses are gearing up for potential drastic change to the corporate landscape. But one outcome appears to be set no matter which candidate wins: a rise in remote work.

According to a recent article by Forbes, the US Election is greatly influencing people’s desires to both hire and work from other countries outside of the States—mainly because of the uncertainty that a presidential election brings with it. When speaking to Forbes, Jae Gardner, Director of Operations at recruitment platform Redrob, said: “There is always unease during election season, with businesses aiming to keep costs low and possible candidates less inclined to leave their job for the unknown of something new. A win-win for those who need to hire will be to turn toward the talent that exists outside of the US. They're cheaper, less affected by the current US election anxiety, and even perhaps a better fit for the role.”

Research from Redrob backs this up, with more than one-third (36%) of companies saying they are willing to hire fully remote workers anywhere in the US (26%), or abroad (the remaining 10%). But is it just uncertainty that’s causing the shift toward remote ways of working?

Dubbed “the election effect”, the corporate lean towards remote work is also influenced by the presidential candidates themselves. Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will have different methods of handling things like taxes and regulations—both issues that can be significantly adapted - and also cost considerably less - when hiring remotely.

On an individual level, workers are also more inclined to begin working remotely as a result of the US Election. Many prefer to become digital nomads, able to surf the wave of political uncertainty rather than falling too deeply into it. Unencumbered by US-based employers, freelancers and contractors are able to avoid some of the cutbacks that will inevitably occur among US businesses as a result of the election.

Research by Ladders also found that, in the same quarter that Kamala Harris was announced as the Democratic nominee, remote roles made up more than 10% of high-paying job postings (aka $100,000 or more a year), with high-paying hybrid roles increasing by 50%.

These findings come at an interesting time, as many household-name companies in the US have been pushing for a full-scale return to office. In the last few weeks alone, both Amazon and Dell have forced employees back to the office five days a week, for instance. But these policies are undoubtedly going against the grain, with companies like Spotify willing to embrace the increasing popularity of remote and hybrid work.

All in all, it’s good news for those of us who understand and push for the freedom to work remotely. It’s a sign of the times that, no matter which candidate succeeds, the remote route remains a popular option for future-proofing business and weathering storms. Something which - as we all know - will always be necessary.

At Remotify, we believe that the best workplaces are flexible workplaces. We’ve helped countless companies transition from mandatory office hours to a more flexible approach, handling the complex details on your behalf. Want to find out more about how we do it? Book a call with a member of our friendly team today.