29+ Technology in the Workplace Statistics for 2024
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Back in 1930, economist John Maynard Keynes thought the workweek would go down to 15 hours as technology advanced. However, the hours had only gotten longer, and the commute was introduced as a brand new work-related time-consuming aspect of the day.
Now:
The fear of new technologies is anything but new, and every great advancement carried the same question:
Will people lose their jobs?
When it comes to the reality of today, technology in the workplace statistics show us two main opinions prevail.
One is that almost half of humans will be replaced by AI, and the other is that technological advances and AI will open the space for humans to turn to mind work and create jobs we aren’t even thinking about right now.
Let’s see what the stats have to say.
Fascinating Stats About Technology (Editor’s Choice)
- 93% of workers would trust an order issue given by a robot.
- Up to 40% of employers believe artificial intelligence will be the solution to the skill gap.
- Chatbots can save companies over $79 million a year.
- Over 60% of employees use their own phones for work.
- Only 5% of all jobs can be completely automated.
- Over a third of employees receive an email after hours.
- A total of 17.5 hours a week are spent solving miscommunication issues.
- Two-thirds of employees are willing to take a pay cut to work remotely.
- Up to 64% of workers will trust a robot more than a manager.
Technology, Jobs, and the Future of Work
1. Only 5% of all jobs can be fully automated.
(FactSuite)
Even though machines are developing, we still need humans to operate them. Technology in the workplace statistics shows only a small fraction of jobs can be functional without humans supervising or assisting.
2. Up to 93% of workers would trust orders given by a robot.
(Dan Schwabel)
Humans and robots coexist in the modern workplace more and more. Up to 145.2 million people use virtual assistants today to complete tasks.
Now:
The reports about the influence robots and AI are going to have on the labor markets are somewhat conflicting, but people and robots will definitely continue working side by side.
And people don’t seem to mind at all as long as it doesn’t cost them their job, the overwhelming majority saying they would trust an order given by a robot.
3. Some 64% of workers would trust a robot over a manager.
(Linkedin)
Half of respondents have asked a robot for advice, and nearly two-thirds would trust a robot more than their actual manager.
This is huge!
Managers spend 54% of their time on administration and only 10% on strategy and innovation work. Just 7% of their time is spent on developing talent and dealing with stakeholders.
4. Rather than upskilling and retraining their workers, 40% of companies might rely on artificial intelligence to resolve the skills gap issue.
(Dan Schwabel)
Hospitality, retail, and agriculture in the US are facing a hiring problem, with 844,000 unfilled positions in hospitality alone due to the lack of workers on the required skill level.
What’s more:
There are up to 6.9 million job openings that remain vacant, which costs employers about $1 million a year.
That’s why in Japan, for instance, the government will attempt to resolve this labor shortage, the highest in the last 40 years, by using robots.
Key takeaway:
Technology in the workplace statistics for 2020 show up to 40% of employers believe artificial intelligence will be the solution to the skill gap.
5. 80% of leaders hurried up the implementation of new technologies during the Covid-19 pandemic.
(Linkedin)
Technology in the workplace statistics for 2021 underline the fact that Covid-19 accelerated the changes in the workplace and turned it into a digital space like never before. The world has leaped a couple of years ahead due to necessity, and over 60% of those reluctant or unable to implement new technologies did so.
Studies by McKinsey and KPMG revealed that eight in ten leaders fast tracked the implementation of new technologies due to the new situation. As a result, contact tracing, collaborative tools, and AI-driven software are all now in wider use than ever.
6. Companies that use automation technologies are 33% more likely to be human-friendly.
(Dan Schwabel)
The entire workforce is worried about what robots, automation, and artificial intelligence will do to their jobs, but it won’t be long before the digital workforce will be mixed with the human workforce.
Technology in the workplace statistics for 2019 show workers in companies that are augmented by automation technologies are 31% more productive, and the workplace itself is 33% more likely to be human-friendly.
7. Chatbots are projected to save businesses over $79 million.
(Forbes)
The use of chatbots in the workplace has been rising in recent years according to technology in the workplace statistics. Programs that run text conversations will save over $79 million in salary costs per year, and efficiency is up by an impressive 30%.
And that’s not all:
In 2021, around 57% of companies will use them as customer support, personal assistants, and employee question tools.
8. The BYOD market is projected to reach almost $367 billion by 2022.
(Forbes, Insight)
Stats about technology point out that the BYOD market will skyrocket from $30 billion in 2014 to an estimated $367 billion by 2022.
According to BYOD statistics, some 61% of Generation Y and half of those over 30 believe the technology tools they chose for themselves in their off-work time are more efficient than those chosen for them at work.
9. Around 31% of workers would like to have a smartphone for work, and 60% are already using one.
(Forbes)
Stats about technology point out that some 59% of organizations let their employees use their own devices for work-related purposes, and 13% are planning to do so in the next year.
Up to 60% of employees use their smartphones for work purposes, cell phones in the workplace statistics are reporting, while 31% wish that they have one for that.
10. BYOD brings annual savings of $350 per employee a year.
(Forbes, Insight)
Up to 87% of employers rely on the use of personal devices when it comes to access to business apps, BYOD stats show.
The thing is:
Letting employees use their own devices saves the companies up to $350 per year, per employee. Aside from cost-cutting, using their own portable devices saves time, statistics on technology use show – up to 58 minutes a day. It also increases productivity by a massive 34%.
11. Statistics about technology use reveal 53% of technology stakeholders think gamification in business was exploding by 2020.
(On the clock)
Game-like elements in business are not a new thing. In fact, studies project that most companies will be using it in the next few years.
Technology stats show that up to 53% of technology stakeholders believe the future of corporate innovation lies in gamification.
12. Almost half of the labor force worked remotely in 2020.
(Deloitte)
The digital workplace became the new normal in 2020. Instead of the gradual shift that was far on the horizon, the sudden reality of COVID-19 pushed the world into the remote work setup.
So, the remote workforce no longer numbers 15% of all employees. Rather, with the additional 35% of people at home, half of all workers are working remotely.
And that’s not all:
13. Two-thirds of employees are willing to take a pay cut to work remotely.
(Linkedin)
The cost of commuting in time, money, and work-life balance is often worth taking a pay cut over and working remotely from the suburbs. Technology and digital workspace have made taking that step an option for many.
Reddit offered its workers a permanent work-from-home setup without adjusting salaries, while Stripe offered a $20,000 bonus to those willing to relocate and accept a 10% pay cut.
14. Up to 74% of workers would like to have more remote hours in the future.
(Deloitte)
One of the pending questions is:
How many will want to continue working remotely after the pandemic is over?
Up to 60% report an improved work-life balance, and 74% express a desire to continue this trend more often in the future.
Another issue is the impact on workplace socializing. Spontaneous reactions that lead to innovation are less likely to happen when working remotely, and team relationships dwindle over time.
What’s worse:
It’s hard to maintain them and introduce new members into the company without the benefit of face-to-face human interaction.
15. Three out of four adults think individuals are responsible to ensure workers have the right skills.
(Forbes)
Numerous certified providers now offer online classes and courses. One of the industries that are being disrupted by tech advances is education.
The costs of tuition and the labor market skills gap are pushing younger generations into unconventional education, and employers are ready to hire them if the skill set is right.
Bottom line:
Three in four people say they are individually responsible for making sure that the workers have the needed skill set, compared to 52% of colleges and 49% of employers.
16. 80% of companies expected to use employee monitoring after 2020.
(Linkedin)
In comparison, this figure stood at only 30% in 2015. The number of people comfortable being monitored is rising and is up from 10% in 2015 to 30% in 2020.
At the same time, while only 10% of employees were comfortable with employers monitoring their email back in 2015, that percent is now 30%.
Monitoring differs around the world, from cameras checking to see if the Domino’s pizza is the right size to employees having microchips inserted instead of keycards in Sweden and emotional surveillance in China that tracks worker’s mood.
Employee Productivity Statistics
17. An average employee receives 121 emails a day.
(Proof Hub, FactSuite)
One of the most distracting things and negative effects of technology in the workplace is the incessant flow of emails, which often reaches 121 a day, followed by our need to check all of them at once when so many will prove unimportant.
The constant interruptions available through technology advancement obstruct the state of flow needed to maintain productivity. People are forced to compensate for the lost time by working faster, which leads to errors, which results in an additional loss of time and results.
Ultimately, distractions build up the chemical imbalance in the brain and that creates fatigue and builds stress and anxiety, which affects overall performance.
But it’s not all bad news:
This vicious circle can be broken by better use of team management groups, task tools, and instant messaging.
18. Up to 96% of employees see the amount of time spent in their inbox as a huge problem.
(Proof Hub)
Some employees might be spending as much as 4.1 hours checking all incoming emails. Workplace productivity statistics show that virtually all believe this is a serious issue affecting their performance and results.
On top of that, 17.5 hours a week is still spent solving miscommunication issues.
19. Unproductive meetings waste 300 hours a year per worker.
(Proof Hub)
One hour every day on average is wasted in unproductive, badly uncoordinated meetings without a proper agenda.
What’s more:
Communication statistics in the workplace point out that up to 15% of a team’s time is used in meetings, and those in middle management positions spend over 35% of their time that way.
Preparation for those meetings lasts about four hours a week.
In the end, 67% of those encounters are not considered a success and will require additional time to wrap up.
Last but not least, communication in the workplace statistics point out that despite the advances in technology, up to 86% of executives blame ineffective communication for all productivity-related issues.
20. Work overload is the next productivity killer, as it lowers productivity by 68%.
(On the clock)
Many feel there just isn’t enough time to finish all the tasks they need to wrap up within a single day. The balance between work and life is disturbed, and both areas suffer.
It gets worse:
Life chores lag behind, and the pressure causes depression and anxiety to rise, while work suffers from a productivity drop.
21. 70% of employees are disengaged at work.
(Proof Hub)
Many technology in the workplace articles point out that when workers are engaged, productivity rises.
Here’s the scoop:
An engaged team has 202% better performance than a disengaged one. And engagement is a personal effort that is left behind when we have to rely on texting and emailing alone.
However, with 70% of employees disengaged during one average workday performance is likely to suffer. Furthermore, engagement influences job satisfaction and when employees are satisfied it raises productivity by 6.6%.
22. Office stress brings down overall team productivity by 5%, workplace collaboration statistics reveal.
(Proof Hub)
Deadlines, uncertainty, poor planning, and bad communication all lead to work-related stress levels rising.
It can also lead to insomnia since many employees seldom get quality sleep. This leads to a loss in productivity that amounts to 11 days every year.
Key takeaway:
Productivity lost due to the lack of sleep costs around $65 billion a year. Click To Tweet23. Around 53% of employees say mobile apps improve business processes and productivity.
(Proof Hub Formstack)
When we measure it ourselves, our productivity tends to be a bit lower than it actually is – 11% lower to be specific. Global productivity trends suggest productivity has been rising steadily by 3% every year since 2011.
Technology in the workplace statistics say around 53% of respondents say mobile apps improve business processes. Additionally, up to 92% of workers claim access to technology that helps them be better and more efficient in their job has an impact on their satisfaction.
24. Conversation increases performance by 20%.
(Forbes)
We can’t deny the social element in the workplace. In fact, 72% of people who had a best friend in the office reported being happier with their job.
Technology in the workplace statistics for 2018 show Gen Zs and Millennials preferred offices to working remotely, as they value human contact.
25. Over 22% of Americans were lonely even before the COVID-19 lockdowns and the trend toward working from home.
(Dan Schwabel)
Even before the pandemic hit, technology in the workplace statistics for 2019 highlighted the technology-induced rise of global loneliness.
Here’s the deal:
Over 22% of American, 23% of British, and 9% of Japanese adults were suffering lowered productivity and quality of life due to being lonely and isolated.
Overusing technology and deterioration of shared community experiences led to a loneliness epidemic that preceded the “Covid loneliness,” which is an entirely new beast.
26. Half of the workforce blames technology for the feeling of loneliness.
(Dan Schwabel)
The price of not having meaningful relationships is not just individual, as half of working Americans are unhappy with the quality of their personal relationships, while up to nine million Britons report feeling alone. It costs UK companies up to £3.5 billion per year in lost productivity.
Half of the workforce blamed technology and the lack of face-to-face communication it caused. Just as many reported having five friends or fewer, while 7% had no friends at all at work.
27. Nearly half of HR professionals consider burnout to be the cause of 50% of the yearly turnover.
(Fliplet Dan Schwabel)
Turnover is often caused by burnout. Employees are burned out from working long hours with no additional compensation, while companies post record profits. Those working full time often clock up to 47 hours a week.
Technology at work and access to employees beyond the office have stretched the workday so much that it effectively starts the moment one wakes up. And companies get 240 extra hours per employee per year, without compensation or a bonus. No wonder nearly half of HR professionals believe burnout is the main cause of 50% of the yearly turnover.
28. Over a third of employees receive an email after hours.
(Dan Schwabel)
Getting messages from your management after hours can be more than frustrating.
What’s more:
It can be detrimental to your mental health and performance.
There was a time when you could leave work in the office, but that’s no longer the case.
Some 10% report getting emails and reading them while on vacation according to technology use statistics, and the right to disconnect might be more important than ever.
29. As many as 94% of workers say they’re stressed out at work.
(Dan Schwabel)
Up to 50% of employees say work stress negatively affects their home life once a week or more, and an astonishing 94% say they’re stressed out at work.
Mindfulness and meditation are a fast-growing niche, projected to become a $2.08 billion industry by 2022. Companies like McKinsey, Nike, Google, P&G, Intel, Adobe, Apple, and General Mills are already using meditation and mindfulness practices with success.
Check this out:
After a mindfulness and meditation program at General Mills, 80% of senior executive participants reported improvements in their decision-making process, while 89% claimed the practices made them better listeners.
30. Meditation and mindfulness application Calm had almost four million downloads in 2020.
(Quartz, Dan Schwabel)
Only 6% of workers aren’t stressed out at work, and over 40% report high levels of anxiety.
The importance of technology in the workplace can also be seen through the fact that it can improve wellbeing.
One-third of the workforce reports that their level of stress is “high” or “unsustainably high,” and as such greatly impacts their wellbeing and productivity.
Stats on technology show applications like Calm that can be used as independent tools or along with special programs are getting increasingly popular. Over 3.9 million people downloaded the app in 2020, and 2 million were already paid subscribers in 2019.
In Conclusion
Technology in the workplace statistics show tasks will be increasingly automated, and we’ll be seeing more digital workers. However, they won’t be replacing humans anytime soon – rather, filling the labor gaps and aiding the existing workers.
The use of artificial intelligence will rise, allowing employees to engage in higher value tasks instead of repetitive stuff that can be done by AI.
Numerous benefits of tech advances are pushing us forward, but the negative sides are evident and are still holding us back.
The good thing is:
The same technology that created the issues can effectively be used to eliminate them.
FAQ
Q: How does technology affect the workplace?
Speed and connectivity are the keywords in the effect technology has on the workplace.
Everything can be done better and faster. Some occupations are disappearing, and some are becoming highly automated. This often requires learning new skills and adjusting to new conditions of jobs or seeking new ones entirely.
However, workplace statistics show there’s a fine line between efficiency, productivity, speed, and burnout. Sending automated messages to large groups might be great, but your customers might be annoyed.
Q: How has technology increased productivity in the workplace?
Positive effects of technology in the workplace can best be seen through production rates and connectivity that have improved beyond all expectations of the previous generations. The amount of work being done, along with the speed at which it is done, has never been higher.
Messages can be relayed within seconds to all parts of the world, and even machines can be given orders from different countries. Coordinating divisions and teams is much easier, and working on one project from multiple locations no longer requires travel. Money transfers and proposals are done with a couple of clicks. For many positions, going to an office has become obsolete, as entire companies work remotely.
Q: What type of technology is used in the workplace today?
A variety of office and production tools and devices speed up and automatize the work process. From electronic whiteboards, communication, team building, and organizing tools, to natural light music and gardening systems, workplaces today utilize modern technology for things one could only have imagined 20 years ago. Cloud computing has allowed users to store data on servers instead of archives. Even routine things like word processing, spreadsheets, and digital presentations were considered giant leaps not so long ago. Now we have immersive team apps, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality.
Q: How technology advances will impact how we work?
What we learned best in 2020 was without a doubt that so many things don’t have to be done in an office. If the technology advances were nudging companies in the direction of remote work, the pandemic gave everyone a violent push towards remote work. This was the biggest impact of technology in the workplace. Remote work stopped being just a choice of freelancers and the IT industry in 2020, and the door is open to reshaping the workspace and its impact on everyone’s lives.
Q: How can the use of new technology in industry benefit workers?
In some cases, technology in the workplace can be used to reduce stress, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Technology can be used to promote healthier work habits by promoting mindfulness tactics, prompting workers to do physical exercises, reminding them of break times, and limiting the use of emails outside office hours. Team automation tools could be used to minimize or eliminate unnecessary tasks.
Technology can be used to change the ways we work for the better by eliminating some of the stress-inducing factors, helping with sleep disorders and attention issues. Sometimes, even things such as the proper choice of workplace music and its volume and lighting levels can be great examples of possible benefits of technology in the workplace, technology in the workplace statistics reveal.
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