By Haley Crim
As work becomes more global, the rise of a mobile workforce has been crucial in solving workplace shortages and allowing more flexible scheduling. A mobile workforce affects the housing market by requiring fully furnished homes, coliving, and opting for different types of leases, rather than the standard of six to 12 months.
According to a report by Emergence Capital, approximately 80% of the world’s total workforce is “deskless”. Instead, many companies now rely on a mobile workforce to send individuals when the need arises, and also hold a competitive advantage over their less-mobile counterparts.
Not only do mobile workers fuel local economies, but they can also heavily influence the local housing market due to changing needs.
What Is a Mobile Workforce?
A mobile workforce is any type of work that requires employees or contractors to go to different locations, depending on the type of job and current requirements. Here are some of the most common types of mobile industries.
Healthcare
Due to ongoing healthcare shortages and shifting community needs, traveling healthcare workers are hugely beneficial to hospitals that are strapped for resources or need new staff members right away. One of the most common mobile healthcare workers is the travel nurse, who usually works with a third-party staffing agency or travels within a designated hospital network.
Traveling doctors are also common. Medical professionals may migrate to local disaster sites or visit parts of the country where healthcare isn’t as accessible, such as more rural areas or places with lower-income residents.
Trades
HVAC and trade service professionals typically conduct their work on-site, whether that means at the home of a customer or within a building for a multinational corporation. Typically, those who work for local companies may only travel within a certain radius, but higher-ups or national representatives might need to go further distances for longer timeframes.
Transportation
You probably spot a semi truck or two every time you get on your local highway. These professionals transport essential goods across the country to ensure that the supply chain continues to function properly. Truckers often drive for 12 or more hours a day and sleep in the cabs of their trucks, making it a tough job for many.
What Is the Difference Between Remote and Mobile Work?
Remote work is typically performed away from the job site, and it can take place in any location. However, mobile work requires the professional to travel to the job site.
How a Mobile Workforce Shapes Short-Term Housing
How exactly is the prevalence of mobile workers changing the field of short-term housing? Here are just a few examples.
Fully-Furnished Homes
When professionals travel for a living, there isn’t time to buy furniture before they are up and moving on to the next location. Therefore, fully furnished living spaces are essential.
Flexible Leasing Options
A mobile worker may not feel comfortable signing a lease if they are not entirely sure how long they will be staying in a single city. Whether they choose a short-term stay in Los Angeles, CA, or long-term stays in Dallas, Texas, they need accessible lodging.
Higher Utilization Rates
More workers traveling but still having a home base means that there are higher utilization rates for housing in many parts of the country. Higher utilization can make it difficult for residents to compete for available housing.
Better Workforce Morale
Access to short-term or long-term housing is crucial for workforce morale. Rather than staying in a hotel room with the bare necessities, employees can enjoy fully furnished spaces.
The Rise of Coliving
Rather than going back to an empty apartment or living space, mobile workers can share lodgings. Not only does this save money, but it gives them opportunities to connect and form friendships with other employees outside of the work environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happens if a Mobile Worker Decides That They No Longer Want To Travel?
Some mobile employees either suffer from burnout or simply decide that they want to stay in a single location, rather than traveling. It is easy for some employees to go back to working from one location, while it may be more difficult for others.
If they are a travel nurse, for example, they may have to go back to their home hospital and work there. Or, they can choose a new home base. However, they may need to fill out new paperwork or take a new position to maintain their existing job.
How Long Do Mobile Workers Typically Stay in One Place?
The length of time that a mobile worker is in a single location depends on their type of work. The timeframe can range from a few days to several months.
Some types of work are job-based. Disaster cleanup crews, for example, will typically stay as long as it takes for a certain threshold to be met. It wouldn’t make sense for a firefighting crew to leave before the issue has been fully resolved, for example.
Other workers travel to fill a need or a gap in scheduling. A consultant might be required for a few days to fill in for their counterpart who is unexpectedly out on vacation.
Does Short-Term Housing Impact the Broader Housing Market?
Absolutely. Many cities are now more attractive to mobile workers because they do not have to place roots there. They can stay for a few days, weeks, or months, and then move on to their next gig.
Short-term rentals can hurt housing market changes if they are taking housing away from potential homebuyers. However, the vast majority of rentals come in the forms of small condos and suites, rather than full houses.
Learn More About Remote Work Housing Trends
With the growing number of jobs in today’s workforce that require flexibility, a thriving mobile workforce is essential to a stable housing market. With this guide, you can learn more about whether short-term housing is a good investment in the ever-changing economy.
Would you like to learn more about the latest developments in the housing industry? Take a look around our website for updates.
