Remote Staff Remote Staff Remote Staff Remote Staff
  • Home
  • Jobs
  • Our Services
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Testimonials
  • FAQ
  • Sign Up
  • Log in
Remote Staff Remote Staff
  • Home
  • Jobs
  • Our Services
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Testimonials
  • FAQ
  • Sign Up
  • Log in
Mar 08

State of Remote Working 2020: How the Pandemic Changed the Remote Working Landscape in the Philippines

  • March 8, 2021
  • Leandro Eclipse
  • No Comments
  • What's Trending

Remote working and freelancing is not a new concept. Some companies, both local and international, opted to operate online to save some expenses and access to global talent.

In this light, they can prosper in the comforts of their home while minimizing costs. But some companies are skeptical. I mean, how can you ensure productivity when you don’t monitor your employees. And it’s too big of a move to implement.

With the global pandemic, every single company was forced to adopt a remote working setup. We need to be safe from the spread of the coronavirus. But we also need to adapt because livelihoods are at stake.

 

Pandemic in the Philippines

Pandemic in the Philippines

The Philippines is heavily hit by the pandemic. Both the health sector and the economy is overwhelmed. 2020 closed with an unemployment rate of 10.4 percent, which is the highest in 15 years, due to the closure of thousands of businesses. And 70% of MSMEs were forced to close, according to a study by ADB. While not for all, some companies opt to adapt and have a remote setup. Not to mention, we are ranking 31st in COVID cases as of writing.

And for the employees, a lot are retrenched and forced to find new sources of income to stay afloat. A lot of people are shifting to remote work. Based on the data we gathered from our database, here are some trends in Remote working.

(For comparison purposes, we used the data spanning 12-month from March to February to compare the impact of the lockdown, which started March 15, 2020)

 

Increase in Sign-Ups

Increase in Sign-Ups

A lot of Filipinos are now open to remote working. After all, most need to adapt to survive the current economic landscape. Based on the data above, there’s a soaring increase in sign-ups on our website.

The number of unique sign-ups more than tripled from last year.

 

Gender

Gender

 

As to gender, females still around 60% of the applicants. It might be because most women stay-at-home and are now looking for sources of income they can do well online. And most male heads of the family work in offices or on-site.

 

Marital Status

Marital Status

For past data, most remote working applicants are Married. But there’s a clear shift during the pandemic. The number of single applicants grew to 65%. It goes to show that remote working is now a viable option for many, even singles.

 

With Experience

With Experience

Before the pandemic, most of the interest comes from people who have done remote working already. But there’s a significant shift after the pandemic. Applicants without online working experience exceed those with experience.

This goes to show that people are looking for opportunities and are willing to learn and adapt during these uncertain times.

 

Remote Working Productivity

Remote Working Productivity

There’s no productivity study published yet in the Philippines. But abroad, there’s a study by Enterprise Technology Research (ETR) regarding productivity. Of the 1,000 CIOs interviewed, 48.6% say that productivity has improved.

And this is relatively consistent with the study by Harvard stating that knowledge workers are more productive from home. It even says that the lockdown helps workers take responsibility for their own schedules. Over 50% of the activities are done through personal choice because they are seen as necessary.

 

Problematic Internet

Problematic Internet

Remote work needs a stable Internet connection. But do we have that stability in the Philippines? We all know how faulty our connections are that we even ask “how fast should our Internet be in the Philippines?”

Filipino are struggling with these connectivity headaches. Hopefully, with the entry of DITO Telecommunity, the internet providers will step-up their game.

 

Will People Return to the Office_

Will People Return to the Office?

The pandemic is like a global experiment of the benefits of Remote work. Companies like Facebook and Twitter are implementing indefinite Work-from-home. Are the companies in the Philippines having the same thoughts?

Some are still hesitant because some think the Philippines is not work-from-home friendly. But even before the pandemic, the Philippines is ranking in the top countries for online work.

Is it a matter of not-friendly, or are we just not accepting it yet?

I mean, a lot of office workers would want those extra hours saved just from Metro Manila traffic. That can mean learning a new skill, having a side hustle, or more time for your family and things that matter most.

At the very least, companies are offering a hybrid set-up, where partially employees are scheduled to work remotely and in the office.

 

Conclusion

As of the moment, the pandemic poses a lot of challenges. But most are adjusting with remote working as a leeway. After all, both companies and individuals are starting to understand the power of online work. We won’t be surprised if it continues to grow in the coming years ahead. Cheers!

Facebook Comments

Disclaimer: The above article was written according to the information available as of press time.
All opinions and beliefs expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Remote Staff's, its employees, subcontractors, clients, and affiliates.


  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • E-Mail

About The Author

Miko Eclipse is a digital nomad writer who advocates that every Filipino can be a remote worker. Learn as he writes about productivity tips and relevant remote working skills for the modern remote worker today.

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

3 × 4 =

Recent Posts

  • 6 Reasons Why Employees Don’t Take Vacations
  • 5 Tips to Help You Adjust to Working in Different Time Zones
  • Here are 10 Small Saving Habits That Can Save You More Money.
  • 7 Ways to Spring Clean Your Cyber Clutter
  • 7 Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Remote Working Routine

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020

What's Trending

  • Want to Become in-demand in an Online ASP Job? Here’s How.
  • How to Register to SSS, PAGIBIG, and Philhealth as a Remote Worker
  • What’s the Best Computer Specs for Work-from-home and Remote Working?
  • Ultimate Guide: How to File Your Taxes as a Freelancer or Remote Worker in the Philippines
  • Got No Internet? Here are 5 Pocket Wifi Options You Can Use As Back-Up
  • Honesty is the Best Policy: Examples of Lying in Job Interviews and Why they’re a Bad Idea.
  • 45 High-Paying Online Jobs You Can Apply For to Earn at Home in the Philippines
  • Equality for All: Some of the Laws Concerning PWD Employment in the Philippines
  • Ultimate Guide: Comprehensive List of Benefits you can get from SSS as a Remote worker or Freelancer
  • Why You Need to Complete Your Remote Staff Profile (Plus a Step-by-Step Video On How to Do It)
  • Contact Us

    info@remotestaff.ph

    Office headquarters

    Remote Staff, Inc.
    Level 29 Joy Nostalg Centre
    17 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Centre
    Pasig City, 1600
    Philippines

    Links

    • Home
    • Blog
    • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Jobs
    • Privacy Policy
    • Fair Equitable Contracting Policy
    © Copyright Remote Staff - 2023