Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment rates in the U.S. have been high. Many businesses that managed to survive the initial economic shutdowns had to downsize their workforce months later.
As of November 2021, the unemployment rate was 4.2%. This is the lowest the rate has been since February 2020, but it’s still high. Experts have offered theories about how to reduce unemployment at this point, but many have failed to acknowledge the simplest solution: remote businesses.
Key benefits of running a remote business
If more companies that operated remotely existed, quite a few unemployed people could land a job working from home. They wouldn’t have to choose between working and taking care of their family.
Here are the top benefits that remote businesses can offer Americans who are still unemployed:
- No commute. Workers can operate from home, or a local coffee shop if they desire. They won’t have to drive unless they wish to work outside of their home.
- Work from home. People who care for young children and older adults can’t easily leave their house to work at an office. These workers might be suitably qualified for the job, but they can’t accept most offers. When someone works from home, he or she can create a schedule that allows the individual to take care of dependents and get the work done as well.
- Flexible hours. Most remote jobs are flexible. If specific working hours are required, people can usually choose their time frame. It’s much more predictable than working for a retail outlet and committing to a different schedule each week.
Remote businesses create jobs for less skilled people
Some people are unemployed because local shops aren’t hiring and they don’t have the skills to land a job in a specific profession. Remote businesses could employ some of these people.
For people who lack tech skills, there are still many jobs that can support a remote business, for example:
- Following trends. Running a remote business requires staying up to date on the latest digital marketing news, tips, and tricks. That’s where sites like DMNews come into play.
Business owners can pay workers to follow the latest digital marketing trends published on a specific list of websites and provide a full report on what’s trending.
- Proofreading. Most people will gladly proofread for minimum wage. Although it requires attention to detail, it’s not a difficult job.
Proofreaders are a good use of payroll. It doesn’t make sense for a $70,000-per-year employee to proofread marketing content when someone else can do the task for minimum wage.
- Transcription. Transcription services require coordination and attention to detail, but it’s not difficult to get into this field. Many people start by transcribing content for people on classified ad sites and shift to working for companies once they’ve gained some experience.
- Posting to social media. Most people use social media, and for some, the idea of posting on social media for a paycheck is a no-brainer. To an unemployed person who needs income, posting to social media for a business might be an acceptable job.
Digital technology facilitates remote business
Digital technology is a broad term that encompasses just about every Internet application, website, and mobile app. With an eye to reducing unemployment rates, digital technology can be used to create businesses and jobs that function entirely online.
In the business world, companies that operate exclusively online are called remote businesses. These firms have teams of remote employees that can be stationed anywhere, from different states and countries to even different continents.
Remote businesses offer a host of advantages that could theoretically eliminate unemployment all together, assuming everyone is willing to work.
Remote workers often earn more than others
According to Flexjobs, the average remote worker earns $4,000 per year more than traditional employees. Though it’s possible the remote workers in this survey may have been placed in higher positions in their company, sometimes remote workers are paid more because they’re more efficient.
Remote businesses are supported by the following technologies:
- Video conferencing software like Skype and Zoom
- Collaboration tools like Asana, Box, and Google Docs
- Mobile applications
- VoIP phone systems that work remotely
- Remote access to a company intranet
- Hosted ecommerce platforms
- And more
Remote businesses are supported by any digital technology that supports online transactions or facilitates communication between employees and managers.
Remote business is the future of U.S. private enterprise
Currently, only 16% of the world’s businesses are completely remote. However, that number is rising daily; employers are starting to realize that workers are often more productive when they work from home.
There’s no denying that remote businesses tend to benefit everyone involved, including the owner, staff, and customers. Given a suitably organized strategy, remote businesses could also benefit the nation by helping to lower the unemployment rate.