Despite the unemployment numbers, finding qualified employees is still a major issue facing employers, but by offering attractive benefit options, such as a telecommuting arrangement, many top job candidates will often take a second look at a potential employer, says Brandi Britton, district president at Robert Half International.

Besides attracting top employees, many employers are also offering telecommuting arrangements because of the savings they can create for both sides, says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder. Long commutes are eliminated for employees, resulting in less travel costs, and operational expenses are reduced. Offices can be smaller, which, in turn, means there is less utility usage and sometimes lower rent payments, Britton adds.

With these advantages in mind, an increasing number of employers have started offering telecommuting arrangements. In fact, according to a recent Accountemps survey, 33 percent of chief financial officers say remote office opportunities have increased over the past three years.