Work from home isn’t for everybody, but for many Californians over the past year, it seemed to be preferable to commuting to the office, according to a new survey.
The survey released by University of Southern California and the California Emerging Technology Fund found that 53% of workers would prefer to work from home part time or full time in the future.
Only 18% of workers polled said they’d prefer a full return to the office.
For students 18 and older who took classes online, about two-thirds said they would continue distance learning, given the opportunity.
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The survey polled about 1,600 people.
In contrast, another survey, from the Bay Area Council, found almost 40% of people working from home said they expected to be back at the office full time, and just 16% said they expect to continue working from home full-time.
Many workers said they were more productive without a long commute, and fewer commuters could benefit the environment. The survey authors also said telecommuting increases access to health, education and essential services.
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But, as the early months of the pandemic showed, the digital divide is very real, and broadband accessibility isn’t the same in all communities and income levels. The USC survey affirmed there's a disparity among Black, Hispanic and Asian respondents when it comes to internet and online health access.
