A dataset containing statistics on work-life balance, employee burnout, flexible work policies, productivity, and job satisfaction, based on surveys and reports.

This statistic shows the importance of work-life balance among employees in the United States in 2018. During the survey, 72 percent of respondents considered work-life balance a very important factor when choosing a job.

Introduction

Work-Life Balance Statistics: Work-life balance refers to the equilibrium between the time and energy you dedicate to your job or career and the time and attention you give to your family, personal life, and leisure. People worldwide are recognizing the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

A positive work-life balance is linked to increased productivity and a happier workforce, although it's important to note that work-life balance can vary widely between different organizations within the same industry. The conversation about work-life balance is growing rapidly, and in this article, we will provide detailed statistics on work-life balance.

Companies globally offer different initiatives to facilitate work-life balance for their employees, In 2023, remote work was the leading strategy for facilitating work-life balance, with ** percent of IT professionals reporting that their companies offer remote work options. A further ** percent of respondents also reported their companies offer access to wellness programs to their employees.

In 2024, Ireland was the country in Europe with the highest score in the work-life balance index, with 78.7 points out of 100. Following were Iceland and Denmark registering 76.8 and 74 respectively. The work-life balance index assigns a score to each country, evaluating the balance between work and well-being. It considers various factors and policies that influence this relationship, including statutory annual leave, minimum statutory sick pay, statutory maternity leave, minimum wage, healthcare quality, happiness index scores, LGBTQ+ inclusivity, and safety standards.

Introduction

Work From Home Statistics: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a major shift in work culture has taken place globally. Remote work, often referred to as work from home, has become a permanent option for many employees. According to data from Owl Labs and Global Workplace Analytics, about 30 percent of employees in the United States now work remotely full-time as of 2024. Meanwhile, 65 percent of employees prefer remote work over traditional office roles. In Europe, approximately 22 percent of workers were working from home regularly by the end of 2023. Remote work opportunities have also expanded, with LinkedIn reporting a 20 percent rise in remote job postings compared to pre-pandemic levels.

In terms of cost savings, employees who work from home can save an average of USD 6,000 annually on commuting and daily expenses. Additionally, businesses are seeing benefits, as employers can save around USD 11,000 per year for every remote employee. However, not all regions have fully embraced this trend; for instance, in countries like Japan, less than 10 percent of employees work remotely as companies encourage a return to traditional office environments.

As stated in Work from Home Statistics 2025, employees are resigning from their positions to get a remote job if they are called back to the office. Remote work is peace of mind, with which work-life balance is handled.

According to a survey conducted in Indonesia in February 2024, over ** percent of Generation Z respondents considered work-life balance important. In contrast, around *** percent of respondents claimed that work-life balance was unimportant.

According to a survey conducted in 2021, about 37 percent of the female professionals stated that they wanted to quit their current job due to poor work-life balance in India. However, only about 28 percent of the male respondents were likely to quit due to the poor work-life balance in the country.

According to this 2021 survey, over ** percent of surveyed doctors disagreed that their work schedule allowed work-life balance. That year, **** percent of U.S. doctors strongly disagreed with having a work-life balance. On the other hand, ** percent stated that they agreed with getting quality family time after work, of which *** percent felt strongly about it.

Physicians in the United States are increasingly putting more weight on work-life balance than pay. In 2024, over ********** surveyed physicians reported that they would take less pay for better work-life balance. The share of doctors who preferred work-life balance to salary has increased from under ** to over ** percent since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction

Remote Work Statistics: The traditional office-based work model has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, with remote work becoming increasingly prevalent. As of 2024, approximately 30% of the global workforce engages in remote work at least part-time. In the United States, 12.7% of full-time employees work entirely from home, while 28.2% follow a hybrid model combining home and office work.

Productivity has seen notable improvements among remote workers. Studies indicate that remote employees are 35–40% more productive than their in-office counterparts, often working 1.4 additional days per month. Moreover, 77% of remote workers report higher productivity levels when working from home.

Financial benefits are also significant. Employers can save up to USD 11,000 per remote employee annually due to reduced overhead costs. Employees, on average, save approximately USD 4,000 per year on commuting and related expenses.

Employee well-being has improved with remote work. About 82% of remote workers report lower stress levels, and 78% experience better work-life balance. Additionally, companies offering remote work options see a 25% reduction in employee turnover.

These statistics highlight the evolving landscape of work, emphasizing the productivity gains, cost savings, and enhanced employee satisfaction associated with remote work arrangements. Let's examine some statistics to gain a better understanding of the current state of remote work.

Tables to accompany the ‘Parenting in lockdown: Coronavirus and the effects on work-life balance article

There is more to life than the cold numbers of GDP and economic statistics. This dataset contains the 2018 data of the Better Life Index which allows you to compare well-being across countries as well as measuring well-being, based on 11 topics the OECD has identified as essential, in the areas of material living conditions and quality of life. Abstract: Your Better Life Index aims to involve citizens in the debate on measuring the well-being of societies, and to empower them to become more informed and engaged in the policy-making process that shapes all our lives. Each of the 11 topics of the Index is currently based on one to three indicators. Within each topic, the indicators are averaged with equal weights. The indicators have been chosen on the basis of a number of statistical criteria such as relevance (face-validity, depth, policy relevance) and data quality (predictive validity, coverage, timeliness, cross-country comparability etc.) and in consultation with OECD member countries. These indicators are good measures of the concepts of well-being, in particular in the context of a country comparative exercise. Other indicators will gradually be added to each topic. Notes: Data cannot be compared between different editions of the Better Life Index. For more information on change over time, please contact wellbeing@oecd.org.

According to a survey among Chinese paid employees, about ** percent of respondents claimed that their employers expected them to be available outside of working hours. About ** percent of respondents would respond to a work-related message or call immediately in their free time. Chinese employees had relatively poor work-life balance among the ** surveyed countries.

Supporting Information File

Introduction

Coworking Statistics: The coworking process has transformed the working patterns of global people as it offers flexible, shared environments that cater to freelancers, startups, and even large companies. They have become popular because they offer flexibility, networking opportunities, and a sense of community. Recent trends and statistics show that coworking spaces are growing rapidly worldwide.

The market of coworking has been driven by a global shift toward remote work and a desire for more work-life balance. Recent statistics reveal impressive growth in the industry, with millions of professionals using these spaces worldwide. This article explores key statistics to highlight the growing importance of co-working in today's professional landscape.

Summary statistics (N = 3,821).

As of March 2023, 55.7 percent of Singaporean higher education students and graduates surveyed stated that they expect to combine their working and private life harmoniously in their first job. The same survey found that 44.2 percent of the respondents plan to avoid stressful, high-pressure careers.

Scales & sociodemographic statistics across time.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) is an omnibus survey that collects data from respondents in Great Britain. Information is gathered on a range of subjects, commissioned both internally by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and by external clients (other government departments, charities, non-profit organisations and academia).

One individual respondent, aged 16 or over, is selected from each sampled private household to answer questions. Data are gathered on the respondent, their family, address, household, income and education, plus responses and opinions on a variety of subjects within commissioned modules. Each regular OPN survey consists of two elements. Core questions, covering demographic information, are asked together with non-core questions that vary depending on the module(s) fielded.

The OPN collects timely data for research and policy analysis evaluation on the social impacts of recent topics of national importance, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the cost of living. The OPN has expanded to include questions on other topics of national importance, such as health and the cost of living.

For more information about the survey and its methodology, see the gov.uk OPN Quality and Methodology Information (QMI) webpage.

Changes over time

Up to March 2018, the OPN was conducted as a face-to-face survey. From April 2018 to November 2019, the OPN changed to a mixed-mode design (online first with telephone interviewing where necessary). Mixed-mode collection allows respondents to complete the survey more flexibly and provides a more cost-effective service for module customers.

In March 2020, the OPN was adapted to become a weekly survey used to collect data on the social impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the lives of people of Great Britain. These data are held under Secure Access conditions in SN 8635, ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, 2019-2023: Secure Access. (See below for information on other Secure Access OPN modules.)

From August 2021, as coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions were lifted across Great Britain, the OPN moved to fortnightly data collection, sampling around 5,000 households in each survey wave to ensure the survey remained sustainable.

Secure Access OPN modules

Besides SN 8635 (which includes the COVID-19 Module), other Secure Access OPN data includes sensitive modules run at various points from 1997-2019, including Census religion (SN 8078), cervical cancer screening (SN 8080), contact after separation (SN 8089), contraception (SN 8095), disability (SNs 8680 and 8096), general lifestyle (SN 8092), illness and activity (SN 8094), and non-resident parental contact (SN 8093). See the individual studies for further details and information on how to apply to use them.

Main Topics:

The non-core questions for this month were:
Tobacco consumption (Module 210): this module was asked on behalf of HM Revenue and Customs to help estimate the amount of tobacco consumed as cigarettes. Due to the potentially sensitive nature of the data within this module, cases for respondents aged under 18 have been removed.
Disability monitoring (Module 363b): this module was asked on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) which is interested in information on disability. The module aims to identify the scale of problems those with long-term illnesses or disabilities have accessing goods, facilities and services. These are largely opinion questions relating to respondent views of their own health and the effect this has on their lives. There is also one question that asks about awareness of the Equality Act 2010.
Well-Being (Module MCZ): this module was asked on behalf of the Office for National Statistics and all questions ask respondents to rate their well-being on a scale of 0-10, where 0 is generally low and 10 high.