A new study from Stanford University shows that the number of U.S. workers commuting over an hour to work in each direction has increased significantly. The number of super commutes– more than 75 miles each direction– has increased by a third since 2020.
Increasing Commute Distances
Due to lifestyle shifts and new expectations that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people moved further away from urban centers where they previously worked. Housing prices have only increased since that time, and the persistence of hybrid and remote work has also contributed to employees being willing to travel further into the office on occasion.
Research on Longer Commutes
Economists Nick Bloom and Alex Finan from Stanford University conducted a study of satellite navigation data in the ten largest cities in the United States. They evaluated two million morning commutes over four months in the span of 2019-2020 and 2023-2024.
Results from Two Million Data Study
The data showed that there are significantly more longer commutes. The number of commuters who drove between 50-74 miles increased by 18 percent between 2020 and 2024, and the commuters who drove 75 miles or more increased by 32 percent in the same time frame. Shorter commutes, defined as under 35 miles, declined.
Hybrid Work’s Influence
The Stanford economists’ takeaway is that the increased ability to work a hybrid schedule allowed commuters to move further away from the city center. Bloom believed that commuters would not tolerate a two hour commute each way daily, and would find another job, or move closer to the office. However, in a hybrid work environment, employees are willing to make the drive on occasion, a few days a week at most.
Super-Commutes in Major Cities
The super commutes are those over 75 miles, and the largest increases in this category of commute occurred in D.C., New York City, Phoenix, and Dallas. Beyond the major cities which were the subjects of this Stanford study, similar patterns are likely to be seen.
Younger Workers and High Earners
Unrelated research was conducted by a software company, Gusto, which manages payroll and benefits. This research revealed that young employees and employees earning over $250,000 are more likely to live further from their workplaces.
Gusto Study on Average Distances
According to Gusto, the average distance an employee drove to work in 2019 was 10 miles, and in 2023 it is 27 miles. Adding to the data, commuters 35 years old and older were more likely to commute an average of 29 miles, nearly triple what they were willing to commute in 2019.
Career Stage and Living Decisions
This data is explained by Gusto economist Liz Wilke, who stated that 35 to 39-year-old employees are the best able to determine their own schedule and are also the most willing and able to make life transitions such as moving, raising a family, and caring for elderly relatives that may result in having obligations beyond the urban environment where their jobs are located.
Urban to Suburban Shift
Transportation Analytics analyst Bob Pishue from INRIX reports that rather than remaining concentrated in urban centers, jobs have, over time, dispersed within a larger metropolitan area, including surrounding suburbs.
Largest Cities Lost 1.9 Million Residents
Further analysis by public policy firm Demographia reveals that between the years 2021 and 2023, 56 of the largest cities in the U.S. lost 1.9 million residents to surrounding areas or different regions of the country.
Employer-Sponsored Vanpools
Employers have had to adapt to the new demands and realities of the workforce, and some have responded by sponsoring vanpools for employees. Some companies are concerned about employees leaving jobs that demand or require in-person labor to find a remote job opportunity. One example of this is a Texas manufacturing company, Inteplast Group, which offered a van carpool for its plant employees who are needed on-site to run the plant.
Financial and Social Benefits of Vanpools
The plant manager for Inteplast noted that he saved hundreds of dollars in gas each month since taking the carpool van. While some may enjoy the solitude of a commute all alone, others benefit from socializing with colleagues and sharing industry news on the way to and from work.
Adjusting to New Commute Realities
Employees and managers alike are still engaged in the negotiation of terms related to work and life balance that define the laborer’s existence. Many workers are becoming accustomed to occasional long or even super commutes, and those that do not have likely settled on a remote career route. No matter what, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped this workspace for the entire American labor force.
Future of Commuting
The trends are not likely to reverse in the near term, and companies will continue to grapple with how to incorporate far flung employees within the company culture, and encourage freedom and initiative and collaboration without pushing employees too far that they might seek employment elsewhere.
