How many Detroiters work from home
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Working remotely is declining in Metro Detroit and nationwide as companies call employees back to the office.
The big picture: Nearly 14% of workers in our metro clocked in from home in 2023 per the latest census data — matching the national average.
- Places like Boulder, Colorado, and Austin, Texas, were among hotspots where at least a quarter of employees work from home.
- Among U.S. metros with at least 150,000 workers, Ann Arbor had the 15th-highest share, with more than 19% working remotely.
Zoom in: General Motors and Ford both curtailed remote work this year with new policies mandating office days for certain white-collar workers.
Why it matters: Remote and hybrid schedules have made work-life balance an easier equation for many Americans, like busy working parents — but they were never enjoyed equally nationwide.
The intrigue: The trend over the last few months has been a slow but steady return to the land of cubicles, watercooler chitchat and harsh fluorescent lighting.
- That trend could be a boost for the city's income tax revenues. People with jobs in Detroit proper who live elsewhere don't have to pay city income taxes for the hours they work outside city limits.
- Detroit lost $55 million in 2021 as a result, and annual losses since then have been estimated at more than $20 million.
Go deeper: The cities where people are still working from home