March 04, 2002 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Working at home

In May 2001, 19.8 million persons usually did some work at home as part of their primary job. These workers, who reported working at home at least once per week, accounted for 15 percent of total employment.

Percent distribution of persons who usually worked at home, May 2001
[Chart data—TXT]

A little over half of those who usually worked at home were wage and salary workers who took work home from the job on an unpaid basis. Another 17 percent had a formal arrangement with their employer to be paid for the work they did at home. The remainder who worked at home—30 percent—were self-employed.

These data on work at home are from the Current Population Survey. Find out more in "Work at Home in 2001," news release USDL 02-107.

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