According to the Icelandic Labour Force Survey in the 4th quarter of 2019, a total of 33.3% of employees aged 25-64 worked remotely from home for their main job. Working remotely from home does not include domestic work or other jobs unrelated to employees’ main job. There were 4.1% of employees who usually worked from home while 29.9% worked sometimes from home.
The results of the survey show that the proportion of those working remotely from home changes with the seasons and is usually lowest in the summertime. Preliminary figures for the 1st quarter of 2020 show a considerable increase in the proportion of people working from home due to COVID-19 but final figures for the quarter are not yet available.
The proportion of employees working remotely from home was almost the same for men and women in the 4th quarter of 2019. Of the total number of employees, the proportion of men was 16.7% and the proportion of women 16.5%.
Managers worked proportionally more often from home (57.3%) than other occupational groups in the 4th quarter of 2019. Professionals came next (53.3%) and then technicians and associate professionals (38.4%). Other occupational groups were less likely to work remotely from home (10.5%).
Employees who work remotely from home normally work longer hours Actual working hours for employees aged 25 to 64 years in the 4th quarter of 2019 were 40.7 on average per week. Those who worked sometimes from home worked 42.2 hours and those who never worked from home worked 39.4 hours.
Employees worked 6.1 hours on average remotely from home or 14.4% of total hours worked. The preliminary figures in the graph below show a considerable increase in the 1st quarter of 2020 in the proportion of hours worked remotely from home of the total hours worked.
