The digital revolution is changing the modern workplace for people all over the world. In 2020 employers were forced to adapt quickly and introduce remote work solutions to stay in business. As a result, tech companies had to explore innovative and new solutions to meet the new demand for technology in the workplace.
Here are the latest statistics showing just how necessary tech has become to how we work.
Top Technology in the Workplace Statistics: Editor’s Choice
- Digital transformation will reach an estimated $2.39 trillion by 2024.
- 29% of people believe that employees don’t collaborate enough.
- Collaborative tools led to increased operational efficiency by 131%.
- 49% of people think that wearable technology boosts productivity.
- More than half of US workers rely on technology.
- Technology will displace 85 million jobs globally by 2025.
- Around 2.7 million industrial robots operate in factories worldwide.
- AI increases worker productivity to 6.2 billion hours.
Technology In The Workplace Stats at a Glance
As technology becomes a more integrated part of the working environment, the importance of understanding technological trends becomes more and more imminent. Entrepreneur statistics reveal that the most common reason businesses fail is because they don’t understand their clients, competition, and market—and tech is a huge part of that. Remaining informed, up to date, and aware of how the market is affected by technology is now a mandatory part of doing business.
1. The latest technology in the workplace statistics state that direct investments into digital transformation will reach an estimated $2.4 trillion in 2024.
The move to a technologically infused workplace is set to expand rapidly by 2024. Digital transformation is the process of including and adopting digital tech into the workplace environment.
The best examples of this transformation are applying technological tools and devices for collaboration and communication, such as cloud migration of data, employee productivity tracking, and project management software.
2. On average, company’s spend 8.2% of revenue on information technology spending when reported by industry.
Flexera recently issued a State of Tech Spend report representing data about IT spending from 300 IT executives from medium and large organizations. Perhaps unsurprisingly, IT industry companies invested in IT more than any other industry, with software and hosting companies ranking the highest at 24.7%. They were followed by financial services organizations whose spending stood at 10% of revenue.
3. According to Statista’s survey conducted in the UK, 52% of respondents believe in the positive effects of technology in the workplace.
A 2019 survey in the UK revealed that 42% of respondents think using technology reduces commute times and costs for staff because it allows remote work solutions. 74% of survey participants stated that technology advancement allowed flexible working, which is, according to employee burnout statistics, very important for the overall happiness of employees.
4. The latest workplace collaboration statistics reveal that 29% of the people in the world think there isn’t enough collaboration between employees in their organizations.
Communication is an essential part of building a collaborative work environment, and yet only 27% of employees say they feel confident communicating at work. By introducing key technologies like employee collaboration tools into the workplace, employees feel more confident communicating with colleagues and say that it makes them more efficient.
5. According to technology in the workplace stats, only 38% of women who majored in computer science work in their field, compared to 53% of men.
Statistics indicate that the gender gap in tech jobs is still significant. With fewer opportunities, harassment in the workplace, and lower wages, it’s no wonder women are more likely to own a micro-business than men.
What Is the Impact of Technology in the American Workplace?
Since the introduction of digital technology in the American workplace, there has been a rapid and seemingly exponential transformation in the way businesses and employees get work done. As technology becomes more advanced and adaptable, it’s hard to find an area of work that hasn’t been touched by the tech revolution.
The exact percentage of jobs that use technology in the US is difficult to know, especially as the transformation to remote working has seemingly occurred overnight due to the coronavirus pandemic. While there’s no doubt that technology helps us adapt to a changing world, many still fear the impact it may have on unemployment.
6. Statistics about the benefits of technology in the workplace reveal that 96% of managers responsible for employee productivity think key technologies are beneficial.
The digital transformation of workplace processes has brought many benefits to employers and employees across the globe.
According to human resources statistics, key technologies like wireless screen sharing and digital signage options have proven to be both worthwhile investments for productivity and business security.
7. Recent statistics about technology use reveal that using collaborative technologies and tools increases operational efficiency by 131%.
With the introduction of smartphones and tablets, mobile and social media applications, and cloud-based storage options, technology use in the workplace is not only making businesses more productive but more flexible to work for.
With the ability to work from anywhere, on-time project delivery has increased by 22% since 2019.
8. According to data about the importance of technology in the workplace, 54.5% of workers feel that lack of necessary technical skills holds them back career-wise.
Technological advancement is happening faster than the standard college curriculum can follow. As a result, many workers find themselves lacking the necessary skills when it comes to working with digital technologies.
With 43% of people saying their work relied heavily on the use of technology, much is to be said for providing adequate training and opportunities to upskill.
9. Outdated technology in the workplace statistics reveal more than 50% of employees believe that technology in their workplace is completely or moderately outdated.
As technology advances exponentially each year, remaining up to date can be a challenge for companies.
Software and computers are the most likely to be outdated, which becomes a major barrier to exploiting new advancements in business tech.
10. A PwC survey revealed that 49% of respondents think that wearable technology would increase productivity in the office.
Wearable technologies like smart glasses, smart cameras, digital badges, or smartwatches are increasingly becoming a part of workplaces in many companies.
Approximately 67% of companies that incorporated wearable technology into their work processes report an improvement in business performance.
11. CFR’s data on the impact of technology on employees reveals that the percentage of US jobs requiring high digital skills increased from 4% to 24% of total employment.
In the last ten years, nearly two-thirds of new job opportunities in the US have mentioned medium to advanced digital skills as a mandatory requirement.
Being tech-savvy is no longer an option. Understanding how to use technology in the workplace is now a mandatory skill for most workers.
12. The latest statistics about technology in the workplace indicate that over 1 million companies use Microsoft 365, and over 200 million use Microsoft Teams.
The 2020 pandemic forced companies to implement cloud-based solutions because their employees needed to access their projects from home.
The demand for high-functioning collaboration tools and virtual meeting software led to many companies creating new and innovative communication technology to improve the remote working experience.
13. The 2020 technology use in the workplace statistics revealed that more than half of workers in the US rely on technology to a great degree since the pandemic started.
The COVID-19 pandemic made a significant impact on workplaces around the US and the world.
Ultimately forcing most workplaces to obey a remote work beta test, many offices are now choosing to stick with at least a hybrid model of remote/in-office work, despite the lessening of social distancing measures.
According to SSL Stats, with the increased use of tech during the pandemic, there was also a rise in internet fraud, forcing companies to invest more in cybersecurity measures.
Artificial Intelligence: Prevalence and Impact
It’s difficult to speak about technology in the workplace without considering Artificial Intelligence. Notably, most of the panic about digital transformation has to do with the fear of robots and programs replacing human-operated occupations.
While it’s true that automated machines will replace many jobs in the next ten years, they also will be responsible for creating even more.
14. According to the World Economic forum data on the impact of technology in the workplace, technology will displace 85 million jobs globally by 2025.
It is evident that with the advancement of AI and digital technology, some manual and low-skilled jobs will eventually become extinct, but this doesn’t mean all is lost.
The introduction of technology into the workplace is estimated to produce 97 million new jobs in the next four years alone.
15. There are currently 2.7 million industrial robots operating in factories worldwide.
There is a pervasive debate of whether technology is taking over jobs or simply redistributing the labor force. Statistics show that there has been a 12% increase in the number of industrial robots being used in factories on a global scale since 2019.
Industrial robots streamline manufacturing processes, perform repetitive tasks with precision, and execute duties considered too dangerous for humans to perform safely.
16. Gartner’s workplace productivity statistics indicate that AI augmentation will lead to 6.2 billion hours of worker productivity globally.
Augmented intelligence represents a collaboration model between AI and people, which places humans in the central role of the partnership. This collaboration aims to enhance cognitive performance, new experiences, decision-making, and learning and is predicted to lead to immense business productivity and profit gains.
17. Technology in the workplace statistics in 2021 indicate that AI augmentation will generate $2.9 trillion of business value by the end of the year.
According to Gartner’s forecast, decision support/augmentation will account for 44% of the global business value derived by AI by 2030. Other types of AI like agents, decision automation, and smart products will also significantly contribute.
Technology in the Workplace Statistics: The Takeaway
The primary purpose of technology in the workplace is to improve workflows and collaboration between employees while streamlining efficiency.
The pandemic simply put to the test all the technologies that have already been created to encourage employee communication and flexibility. Even with lockdown restrictions decreasing and the potential to return to work, many say they would like to continue using remote work, at least part of the time.
The latest available US Bureau of Labor Statistics forecast stated that by the end of 2020, up to 77% of jobs will use technology on a regular basis.
Technology is already a significant part of every industry, and while automation will be responsible for many jobs becoming obsolete, the potential to create safer, better work environments and positions for workers is undeniable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of jobs require technology skills?
More than 82% of mid-level jobs demand that applicants have proficiency in using digital tools, representing a 4% increase in the last seven years. Today, 38% of all job postings require mid-level digital skills. In some metropolitan areas, however, this percentage can be even higher. For example, In Houston, 42% of job postings required mid-level digital knowledge.
What are the negative effects of technology in the workplace?
Even though there are numerous advantages of tools that enable professional collaboration and communication, sometimes it can easily blur the line between personal and work hours. Constant emails, notifications from business collaboration platforms, and project applications can negatively affect the balance of employees even while they are at home and resting.
These harmful impacts reflect the need to work more and longer, even on those tasks that are not so urgent, leading to stress, pressure, and frustration. When these emotions build up for some time, there is an inevitable fall in employees’ productivity and satisfaction.
How have computers affected the American workforce?
New advancements in automation and IT boosted overall income in the US and created trends like flexible work hours and remote work, which were unimaginable not so long ago. On the other hand, possessing digital skills is no longer a ‘’plus’’, so many older workers find themselves at a disadvantage because they cannot keep up with the newest technological trends.
The inevitable consequence of the digitalization of American industries is an increased requirement in the knowledge and skills for workers occupying more responsible positions. All these factors vastly contributed to inequality in wage distribution and employment in the US.
How has technology changed the workplace?
There are a few ways in which technology changed the workplaces in the US, like increased efficiency and productivity, improved cost management, tighter security, increased collaboration, and better employee experience.
When it comes to increased productivity and efficiency, technology helps optimize time management, leaving more time for employees to focus on creativity and precision. On the other hand, businesses became more fiscally healthy with innovative software and technological equipment.
The most significant contribution of technology, however, is to the overall employee experience. Satisfied employees create twice the average revenue and four times the average profit compared to organizations with low employee morale.
How does technology increase productivity in the workplace?
Increasing productivity in organizations has become much easier since the introduction of tech in the workplace. Professionals worldwide are coming up with various ways to apply technology to enhance the five drivers of productivity—employee engagement, automation, collaboration, workflows, and communication. Technology such as SCG is known to make employees’ workplace experience more engaging and immersive.
According to technology in the workplace statistics, utilizing powerful applications and tools that enable streamlining complex processes and workflows is a path to increased productivity and successful business practices. Implementing solutions that deal with time-consuming and repetitive tasks is cost-efficient and leaves space for investing that time and money into more important tasks.
Sources
BestCompaniesAZ, CIO, Flexera, Future Learn, Gartner, IFR, Innovation News Network, Kitaboo, Protected Trust, Queens University of Charlotte, Reworked, Statista, Statista, Statista, The Courier, ZenBusiness