b'OPPORTUNITY LIVES HEREWORK FROM HOME TRENDSThe COVID-19 pandemic forced many office-based workplaces to shift toThe District is within short commuting distance of higher-cost locations such as remote work. Even though working from home was initially thought of as aNew York City, Washington, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. One benefit of remote temporary fix until the world returned to normal, surveys have shown thatwork is that a worker can choose to live farther away from their work location hybrid and remote work is now an enduring feature of the modern working(such as in a milder climate or a more affordable city). The District is near world. 2A McKinsey and Ipsos survey of 25,000 American workers in 2022several more expensive cities (New York City, Washington, DC, Philadelphia). found that 58 percent of Americans, in both white- and blue-collar jobs,Therefore, because remote work appears to be a lasting trend, the District may are able to work remotely at least once per week, and 35 percent can workbe an appealing place to live for to remote or hybrid workers in those cities remotely five days per week. For those who have the option to work frombecause it offers an urban setting with a lower cost of living that is still within home, 87 percent take advantage of the opportunity, it is now a highly valuedcommuting distance of those more expensive cities. employee benefit, as workers are wanting more autonomy over where and when they work. 3Remote work in New Castle County and Delaware has followed this trend. In both geographies, the percentage of the workforce that worked remotely doubled between 2015 (when 3-4% of the workforce worked remotely) and 2020 (when 8% of the workforce worked remotely). This trend is expected to continue, both in Delaware and nationwide. Remote Work is a Rising Trend and Desired by U.S. WorkersRemote 58% OF BOTH WHITE- AND35% OF BOTH WHITE- AND87% OF BOTH WHITE- ANDWork is a BLUE-COLLAR WHOBLUE-COLLAR WORKERSBLUE-COLLAR WORKERSHighly Valued WORKERS ARE ABLE TOARE ABLE TO WORKWHO ARE ABLE TO WORK WORK REMOTELY ONCEREMOTELY FIVE DAYS PERREMOTELY DO SO Employee PER WEEK WEEK BenefitSource: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2021)2McKinsey and Company, 2022, Americans are embracing flexible work - and they want more of it, https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/real-estate/our-insights/americans-are-embracing-flexible-work-and-they-want-more-of-it3Ibid.Delaware Three Rivers Area Economic Development Master Plan 39'