Insights into the remote lifestyle The digital nomad survey

Insights into the remote lifestyle The digital nomad surveyInsights into the remote lifestyle The digital nomad surveyFlexJobssurveyed over 500 digital nomadsabout key topics related to their digital nomad career, lifestyle, and work style in September and October 2018. The results of our digital nomad surveychallenge some of the conceptions we see about who digital nomads are, and offer a fascinating look at this nomadic remote lifestyle.Whos the typical digital nomad?According to the nomads themselves,the profile of the average digital nomad is a married female gen Xerwho is an experienced employee working at a company at least 40 hours a week in the writing, education and training, or administrative career fields. She has health insurance, is saving for retirement, and has a bachelors degree or higher.This is far from the stereotypical nomad. In the media, the typical digital nomad is oftenportrayed as a freelancer or solopreneur, or ayoung professional backpacking across Europe, or atech startup founder living the dream. Andmora often than not, a digital nomad is characterized as a man rather than a woman, yet according to this survey, 70% of digital nomads are women.We learned a lot about digital nomads from the answers given by unterstellung 500-plus survey respondents, and we hope you do, tooRead on for an inside look intodigital nomads, how they work and live, and why theyve chosen the nomadic remote lifestyleDemographicsGeneration27% identify as millennials or gen Z, 41% identify as gen X, and 32% identify as baby boomers or the silent generation.GenderThere are more women (70%) digital nomads than men (30%).Education72% have at least a bachelors degree and 33% have a masters degree.WorkMore digital nomads are employed by a company (35%) than digital nomad freelancers (28%) or business owners (18%).Time42% have been digital nomads for less than a year, 33% for 1-5 years, and 24% have been digital nomads for more than 5 years.Career fields for digital n omadsWe asked nomads to choose the career field they work in, and these were the top 10 fieldsWritingEducation TrainingAdministrativeCustomer ServiceArt CreativeComputer ITConsultingData EntryMarketingProject ManagementWhere digital nomads live and travelWhere They StayThe majority of digital nomads live in hotels (51%), then with friends/family (41%), Airbnb (36%), car/van/RV (21%), and hostels (16%).Top Places They TravelAmerica (53%) Western Europe (18%) Asia (13%) all over the world (12%).How Many Countries They Visit in a Year1-2 countries (73%) 3-4 countries (19%) more than 5 countries(8%).Travel ProgramsOnly 6% have participated in travel programs for nomads, such asRemote Yearor Hacker Paradise. Just 5% have used co-living spaces, such asOutsiteor Nomad House.Longest Travel TimeThe longest amount of time theyve spent traveling while working 1-3 months (65%) 3-6 months (14%) 6 months-1 year (10%) 1+ year (11%).Moving AroundHow long they typically stay in one location befor e moving on it varies (27%) 1-2 weeks (22%) less than a week (17%) 3+ months (12%) 3-4 weeks (11%) 1-2 months (11%).Families of digital nomadsMarriage61% of digital nomads are married and 39% are unmarried.Travel with Spouse31% of married digital nomads partners travel with them full-time, 38% travel with them part-time, and 32% dont travel with their partners at all.ChildrenOnly 26% of digital nomads have children 18 and under.Travel with ChildrenOf those with children, 59% say their children dont travel with them at all.Schooling for Nomad KidsFor those with children who do travel with their digital nomad parent, the majority are enrolled in public school to meet their educational needs, followed by homeschooling and online schools.How digital nomads work hours, spaces, tech, travelHours70% work 40 hours per week or fewer. One-third of digital nomads work more than 40 hours per week, far fewer than the general population where86% of men and 67% of women work more than 40 hours per week.SpacesLess than one-fifth work in coworking spaces (19%). The majority work from their hotel/hostel (46%), coffee shop or local dining establishment (45%), Airbnb (27%), primary mode of transportation (van, camper, RV, car, etc.) (21%), or a library (20%).Top 5 Digital Communication and Collaboration ToolsSkype (67%)Google Chat (34%)GoToMeeting (32%)Google Hangouts (29%)Zoom (24%)Top 5 Technology ToolsLaptop (91%)Cell phone (88%)Battery charger (67%)Hotspot (51%)Wall power outlet adapter (48%)Challenges, benefits, and reasons for being a digital nomadTop Challenges of Being a Digital Nomadfinding reliable Wi-Fi (52%) finding a good place to work (42%) networking (35%) time zones (29%) work communications (20%).Top Benefits of Being a Digital Nomadflexible schedule (85%) no commuting (65%) freedom to live and work where I choose (65%), work-life balance (63%) no office politics (52%) no dressing up for work (51%).Top Factors for Wanting to Be a Digital Nomadwork-life balance (7 3%) enjoy the freedom (68%) love to travel (55%) avoid office politics and distractions of a traditional work environment (43%) want to explore other cultures (37%) high cost of living in home country (30%) poor local job market in hometown (24%).Lifestyle92% of digital nomads say the lifestyle is important to them.Impact88% report that being a digital nomad has had a huge improvement or positive impact on their lives.Salary, healthcare, finances, and retirementHealth Insurance74% of digital nomads have health insurance.Income18% report making six figures or more and 22% make between $50,000 and $99,999. According to the Social Security Administration,the average U.S. worker today earns roughly $46,641 a year.Making More or Less Than In-Office31% make similar amounts of money and 18% make more money as a digital nomad than when they worked traditionally. 46% make less money as a digital nomad.Additional Financial Support32% have occasionally received financial support beyond income from an outside source like a friend or family member to help make ends meet.Financial Stress38% say they feel less stressed financially as a digital nomad and 34% say there is no difference in financial stress than when they worked a traditional job.Retirement Savings55% are saving for retirement (a 2018 retirement savings survey found 42% of Americans will retire broke).31% are very concerned about saving for retirement and 34% say it is a concern.20% are slightly concerned and only 15% are not concerned at all.What everyonewants to know from digital nomadsThe question digital nomads are most commonly asked revolve around practical logisticsHow does it work/how do you do it? (35%)How do you afford it- can you make a living doing this? (12%)Does your family travel with you, what do your kids do for school, and do you miss being away from home so much? (9%)This article first appeared on FlexJobs.