As the workplace becomes increasingly more reliant on technology, one would assume that an employer’s location would have no bearing on jobseekers, right? Actually, that’s wrong—a whopping 62% of jobseekers say a company’s location directly impacts their decision to apply at that company, according to new research released by Scoop. 
Scoop, an enterprise carpooling solutions company, unveiled the results of its first-annual State of the American Commute report, which offers key insights and a better understanding of the impact of lengthening commutes on American workers’ physical, financial, and emotional well-being.
The report, which highlights how commuting leads to lower productivity, higher costs, longer workdays, and different lifestyle choices, is based on a survey of more than 7,000 workers in 16 major metropolitan regions across the United States.
“Nearly three-quarters of commuters in the U.S. drive alone to work today, and their commutes are getting longer—a paradigm that exists in part because American workers are increasingly finding it difficult to live close to where they work,” says Rob Sadow, Cofounder and CEO of Scoop. “As a result, commutes are getting more painful. Our research suggests that employers must find ways to support alternative commutes to mitigate the commute’s impact on their employees’ health, productivity, and satisfaction at work—ultimately helping to reduce attrition.”
Work Requirements, Cost of Living Responsible for Majority of Solo Commutes
American workers have attempted alternative modes of transportation, such as public transit (37.9% of respondents), carpooling (23.4%), and bicycling (12.8%), but many revert back to driving alone to work via single-occupancy vehicle (SOV) trips. The most common reasons cited for returning to driving alone are tied to respondents’ relationship with work:
- Almost one-quarter (24.7%) noted that a job change led them to solo commuting.
- 24% cited a work location change.
- 6% said they work irregular hours.
- 8% need access to a car for their job.
- An additional 13.8% drive because of a work schedule change.
While work may force many to commute alone, the rising cost of living is making the drive to the office more arduous. With housing costs ballooning in many urban centers across the country, workers are being forced to live farther from their jobs and endure longer commute times:
- Almost half (49.4%) of workers have a one-way commute between 5 and 20 miles.
- Just one-quarter of workers live within 5 miles of their job.
- The average worker travels 28 minutes to work one-way each day. Over a year, that represents 30 workdays dedicated solely to commuting.
- Only 9% of workers have commutes that take 5 minutes or fewer.
Commute Affects Well-Being, Job Choices
Longer commutes are giving American workers pause about their own health, as well as their life decisions, such as choosing jobs.
- Almost one-third (32%) say the commute causes them stress, while two-thirds of workers said they can see how the commute causes stress among other people.
- Nearly two-thirds (62%) report not applying to jobs based on the commute due to location.
- 30% have considered quitting their jobs based on their daily commute to a certain location.
American workers also feel their lifestyles would be much healthier without the stresses of the commute:
- 31% believe they would make healthier food choices if they had a shorter commute.
- Half of all workers would exercise more if they could reduce their commute times.
- More than one-third (37%) would get more sleep.
Employers Should View Commute as a Competitive Advantage
The survey highlights that organizations must become aware and sensitive to the pains, challenges, and opportunities associated with employees’ commutes. More importantly, organizations must do more to proactively provide solutions that ultimately reduce the impact of commuting. Less than one-quarter (22.5%) of workers said their employer incentivizes alternative transportation modes.
This research shows that offering a more robust range of commuting solutions is a benefit to employees and an advantage for employers. Incentives for using alternate modes of transportation empower commuters to take the stress not only off their wallets but also off their minds. Respondents replied that the following incentives would encourage them to try different transportation modes:
- Free parking,
- Flexible work schedules (including the ability to work from home),
- On-site locker rooms, and
- Subsidized transit.
Beyond these types of incentives, employers should also consider offering employees solutions that are flexible enough to meet the day-to-day needs of employees and support options for switching and tools to help employees make the switch easier, such as guaranteed rides home or automated carpool matching.