News Analysis
Lockdowns and closures related to COVID-19 have unmoored millions of American employees from the office, perhaps permanently, swelling the ranks of so-called “digital nomads” who work and travel simultaneously. The growth of this nebulous population has, in turn, fueled a niche industry catering to the needs and desires of highly mobile employees.
The number of digital nomads in the United States more than doubled between 2019 and 2021, reaching an estimated 15.5 million, according to a study conducted in mid-2021 by back-office services provider MBO Partners. More than 10 million digital nomads were traditional job holders, while 5.3 million were independent workers such as freelancers and contractors….