Flexible working to add $10trn to global economy

ABU DHABI / Emirates Business

A predicted boom in flexible working could contribute $10.04 trillion to the global economy by 2030, according to the first comprehensive socio-economic study of changing workplace practices.
The analysis, commissioned by Regus and conducted by independent economists, studied 16 key countries to delve into the state of flexible working both now and through 2030.
Regus found that between 8% and 13% of all employment will be associated with flexible workspaces in most developed economies by 2030. Greater levels of flexible working will save businesses money, reduce operating costs and boost productivity — ultimately causing a rip-
ple effect across the economy from core businesses through to supply chains.
The specific benefits include higher business and personal productivity, lower overheads for office space for companies using flexible workspace, and millions of hours saved commuting. All of these factors contribute to flexible working’s gross value add to the economy.
China and India are predicted to see the greatest gross value add (GVA) increase from flexible workspace, potentially seeing an increase of GVA of 193% and 141% in their respective economies. This equates to $1.4 trillion for China and as much as $375.8 billion for India each year. While the US has a slightly lower percent value-add to its economy from flexible working at 109%, it will see the highest gross value add at $4.5 trillion.
The study found that flexible working doesn’t just benefit economies — it also helps individuals. Remote workers are almost twice as likely to say they love their job as those in the same industry working in a
traditional workspace.
A huge factor in this may be the times individuals save due to remote and flexible working. According to an accelerated growth model, which lays out a scenario for uptake of flexible working at a higher-than-current rate, cutting out the commute by working remotely could save 3.53 billion hours by 2030.