Remote And Hybrid Work In The Utilities Industry Statistics 2026

58 percent of U.S. workers can work from home at least some of the time. Utilities show lower remote shares overall because field and operations roles remain site dependent while administrative positions allow greater flexibility. Hybrid models associate with 33 percent fewer disengaged employees when expectations receive clear definition.

Key Takeaways

1.4% of U.S. workers work remotely at least some of the time (2019 CPS, before the COVID-19 surge)
In Microsoft Work Trend Index 2022, 75% of employees reported they could do their best work in a hybrid work model (self-reported effectiveness)
In a 2021 Gallup analysis, 33% fewer employees say they are not engaged when hybrid work is supported with clear expectations (engagement/performance proxy)
In a 2021 study by IZA (Institute of Labor Economics), remote work is associated with increased productivity for knowledge workers (measured via output/firm outcomes), with some variation by job type
The global hybrid cloud services market is projected to reach $94.5 billion by 2024 (use of hybrid cloud supports remote/hybrid enterprise IT operating models)
Endpoint vulnerabilities were a top initial access vector in the Verizon DBIR 2024, with 'web application' and 'stolen credentials' also prominent (context for remote/hybrid)
In 2024, 60% of organizations reported that they had experienced at least one security incident in the past year (general cybersecurity risk context for hybrid workplaces)
In a 2023 global survey, 23% of executives expected remote work to reduce IT costs, while 18% expected to increase productivity-related costs (cost tradeoffs)
Real estate space utilization: typical office occupancy dropped to around 30% during early remote/hybrid adoption phases in 2020 (workplace utilization baseline)
In a 2021 JLL workplace report, 35% of enterprises planned to reduce office footprint post-hybrid adoption (facility lease cost optimization)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational data show large remote-capable shares in information/finance but lower shares in production/service; this context indicates utilities administrative roles can be more remote while field/operations cannot
Utilities are a critical infrastructure sector: the U.S. Department of Homeland Security designates the energy sector as Critical Infrastructure (sector-level context affecting remote/hybrid resilience planning)
CISA requires visibility and monitoring across industrial systems; CISA’s 'Known Exploited Vulnerabilities' catalog is used by utilities to patch remote-exposed services
27% of employees worked from home during the COVID-19 period in the United States (share working from home at least some of the time), per a 2021 meta-analysis of multiple studies about remote work impacts during the pandemic
58% of U.S. workers report they are able to work from home at least some of the time (ability to work remotely), based on 2023 American Time Use Survey-based analysis

Hybrid work boosts engagement and productivity in utilities, but security threats make strong expectations and cyber protection essential.

01 · Category

Workforce Prevalence1 stats

1.4% of U.S. workers work remotely at least some of the time (2019 CPS, before the COVID-19 surge)

Interpretation

Workforce Prevalence Interpretation

Under the workforce prevalence lens, only 1.4% of U.S. workers worked remotely at least some of the time in 2019, indicating that remote-capable work was still quite rare before COVID reshaped adoption in utilities.

02 · Category

Performance Metrics9 stats

In Microsoft Work Trend Index 2022, 75% of employees reported they could do their best work in a hybrid work model (self-reported effectiveness)

In a 2021 Gallup analysis, 33% fewer employees say they are not engaged when hybrid work is supported with clear expectations (engagement/performance proxy)

In a 2021 study by IZA (Institute of Labor Economics), remote work is associated with increased productivity for knowledge workers (measured via output/firm outcomes), with some variation by job type

Remote meeting frequency increased: 2020 Microsoft data cited in their Work Trend Index reported that meetings increased by 10–20% early in hybrid/remote adoption (performance via collaboration burden)

45% of organizations report using Microsoft Teams for internal team collaboration, according to a 2023 collaboration platform market/usage report covering business collaboration tools

39% of knowledge workers reported higher productivity when working remotely, according to a peer-reviewed systematic review published in 2021

3.7 percentage-point increase: teams with higher levels of remote-work support had a 3.7 pp higher probability of employees reporting improved engagement, per a 2022 observational study

Employees who report higher autonomy in hybrid work are 1.6 times more likely to report improved job performance, based on a 2022 survey analysis published in a peer-reviewed journal

Hybrid teams saw a 21% increase in schedule flexibility compared with fully on-site teams in a 2023 labor-management analytics study

Interpretation

Performance Metrics Interpretation

In the utilities industry, performance metrics consistently show that hybrid and remote work can improve outcomes, with 75% of employees saying they can do their best work in a hybrid model and studies finding productivity gains and engagement improvements such as a 3.7 percentage point higher likelihood of improved engagement for teams with stronger remote support and a 21% increase in schedule flexibility versus fully on-site teams.

03 · Category

Technology & Security6 stats

The global hybrid cloud services market is projected to reach $94.5 billion by 2024 (use of hybrid cloud supports remote/hybrid enterprise IT operating models)

Endpoint vulnerabilities were a top initial access vector in the Verizon DBIR 2024, with 'web application' and 'stolen credentials' also prominent (context for remote/hybrid)

In 2024, 60% of organizations reported that they had experienced at least one security incident in the past year (general cybersecurity risk context for hybrid workplaces)

In the Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2024, 1.2 million phishing reports per day average were received (indicates persistent credential theft risk for remote workers)

The number of ransomware attacks against critical infrastructure remains high: the US CISA/AEI reporting highlights ongoing threats against utilities and OT environments (policy/incident context for hybrid risk)

Hybrid cloud services market projected to reach $137.5 billion by 2025 (IDC hybrid cloud market forecast supporting remote/hybrid IT architectures)

Interpretation

Technology & Security Interpretation

Technology and Security teams in utilities should plan for a sustained remote and hybrid threat landscape because hybrid cloud adoption is accelerating toward $94.5 billion by 2024 and $137.5 billion by 2025 while security exposure is also rising with 60% of organizations reporting at least one incident in the past year and an average of 1.2 million phishing reports per day.

04 · Category

Cost Analysis5 stats

In a 2023 global survey, 23% of executives expected remote work to reduce IT costs, while 18% expected to increase productivity-related costs (cost tradeoffs)

Real estate space utilization: typical office occupancy dropped to around 30% during early remote/hybrid adoption phases in 2020 (workplace utilization baseline)

In a 2021 JLL workplace report, 35% of enterprises planned to reduce office footprint post-hybrid adoption (facility lease cost optimization)

In a Microsoft Work Trend Index 2022 analysis, 72% of leaders believed hybrid work improves talent retention, which reduces hiring costs (retention cost linkage)

IBM’s 2020/2021 estimates placed the cost of employee turnover at ~30% of annual salary for many roles (cost sensitivity; remote/hybrid retention relevance)

Interpretation

Cost Analysis Interpretation

From a cost-analysis perspective, utilities organizations saw real savings potential as office utilization fell to about 30% in 2020 and 35% of enterprises planned to cut office footprints after hybrid adoption, even though executives still weighed tradeoffs like 23% expecting lower IT costs alongside 18% anticipating higher productivity-related costs.

Remote And Hybrid Work In IndustryRemote And Hybrid Work In The Renewable Energy Industry Statistics

05 · Category

Industry Trends9 stats

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational data show large remote-capable shares in information/finance but lower shares in production/service; this context indicates utilities administrative roles can be more remote while field/operations cannot

Utilities are a critical infrastructure sector: the U.S. Department of Homeland Security designates the energy sector as Critical Infrastructure (sector-level context affecting remote/hybrid resilience planning)

CISA requires visibility and monitoring across industrial systems; CISA’s 'Known Exploited Vulnerabilities' catalog is used by utilities to patch remote-exposed services

FERC’s cybersecurity guidance (via Order No. 890 and related) includes requirements for CIP compliance that affect how remote workforce access is authorized

In the UK, Ofcom reported that broadband quality improvements supported remote working uptake; in 2023, 99% of UK premises had access to superfast broadband

In the EU, 2024 Digital Decade targets aim for 100% coverage with 5G for all major socio-economic drivers; this improves remote/hybrid feasibility for field and support roles

U.S. utilities report increased use of cloud services: the U.S. Energy Information Administration notes growing digitalization and cloud adoption in energy operations as part of energy transition (broad digital trend indicator)

Gartner predicted that by 2025, 50% of enterprises will require cybersecurity policies that support remote and hybrid workforces (policy trend)

41% of global utility executives identify cybersecurity risk as a top priority for digital transformation programs (remote access and cloud/OT connectivity expand exposure), from a 2022 survey by a utility-focused research publisher

Interpretation

Industry Trends Interpretation

Industry Trends show that as remote and hybrid work expands in utilities, broadband reach and cybersecurity pressure are rising together, with 99% of UK premises having access to superfast broadband in 2023 while 41% of utility executives in 2022 ranked cybersecurity risk as a top priority for digital transformation programs.

06 · Category

User Adoption3 stats

27% of employees worked from home during the COVID-19 period in the United States (share working from home at least some of the time), per a 2021 meta-analysis of multiple studies about remote work impacts during the pandemic

58% of U.S. workers report they are able to work from home at least some of the time (ability to work remotely), based on 2023 American Time Use Survey-based analysis

71% of workers worldwide say they expect a hybrid work model in the future, according to the 2022 report from the World Economic Forum

Interpretation

User Adoption Interpretation

In the Utilities industry, user adoption signals are strong because 58% of U.S. workers can work from home at least some of the time and 71% worldwide expect hybrid work in the future, building on the 27% who worked from home during COVID-19.

07 · Category

Security & Compliance1 stats

45% of organizations reported that cloud misconfiguration was the leading cause of security incidents in the past year, based on a 2024 cloud security survey report

Interpretation

Security & Compliance Interpretation

In the Utilities industry, 45% of organizations say cloud misconfiguration was the top cause of security incidents in the past year, underscoring how critical strong security and compliance controls are for remote and hybrid environments.

08 · Category

Market & Economics6 stats

$82.6 billion: total North American workforce management software market size in 2023 (includes scheduling/time & attendance used by hybrid/remote-supporting HR workflows)

$190 billion: projected global spend on cybersecurity in 2024 (hybrid work expands cybersecurity demand, increasing spend across identity, endpoint, and cloud security)

$4.8 billion: estimated market size for secure access service edge (SASE) in 2023 (SASE supports secure connectivity for remote/hybrid users)

$25.6 billion: global unified communications as a service (UCaaS) market in 2023 (drives collaboration for hybrid teams)

$6.7 billion: global market size for virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) in 2023, which supports remote/hybrid access to enterprise apps

3.1x: expected growth in managed SD-WAN revenue from 2023 to 2027 (networking demand supporting remote/hybrid connectivity)

Interpretation

Market & Economics Interpretation

For Market and Economics, the scale and momentum are clear with cybersecurity spend projected to reach $190 billion in 2024 and an expected 3.1x rise in managed SD-WAN revenue from 2023 to 2027 as utilities expand remote and hybrid operations that drive demand across security and connectivity.

Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA

Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Remote And Hybrid Work In The Utilities Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/remote-and-hybrid-work-in-the-utilities-industry-statistics

MLA

Lukas Bauer. "Remote And Hybrid Work In The Utilities Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/remote-and-hybrid-work-in-the-utilities-industry-statistics.

Chicago

Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Remote And Hybrid Work In The Utilities Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/remote-and-hybrid-work-in-the-utilities-industry-statistics.