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As return-to-office plans loom for many American workers (though perhaps not as soon as initially expected), many employees are not ready to give up their newfound free time. For those who traded multiple-hour commutes for more time with family or taking up new hobbies, the time spent looking for a new job seems well worth it.
Unsurprisingly, the number of Americans working from home nearly doubled during the pandemic, while time spent on commuting or running errands decreased, according to the latest American Time Use Survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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The data show not only how daily life has changed during the pandemic, but how those changes differ between demographics. For instance, industries like financial services and professional and business services saw the largest increase in people working from home, while leisure and hospitality, transportation and retail ("essential" workers) saw the smallest increases. In addition, workers with a bachelor's degree or higher were more likely to work at home than those with a high school diploma.
The data also highlights the ongoing rift in household and childcare duties. More time at home meant more time taking care of their household, and time spent on housework, cooking and lawn care increased, though women are still doing the lion's share of the work, clocking 2.4 hours per day compared to men's 1.6 hours. Similarly, women spent more than twice as much time on childcare duties on an average day.
How else has Americans' time management changed during the pandemic? Take a look:
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Emily Payne
Emily Payne is director, content analytics for ALM's Business & Finance Markets and former managing editor for BenefitsPRO. A Wisconsin native, she has spent the past decade writing and editing for various athletic and fitness publications. She holds an English degree and Business certificate from the University of Wisconsin.
