Well, they’re definitely not a minority of workers! Impressively enough, there are currently over 10 million digital nomads in the U.S. and 35 million total across the globe.  

The trend was already on the up and up, but numbers practically doubled after the pandemic, taking the number of nomads in the U.S. from 4.8 million in 2018 to more than 11 million in 2021.

Want another stat to blow you away? Google search results for “digital nomad” increased from 1,300,000 in January 2019 to over 56,700,000 in January 2022. Massive spike.

Interestingly enough, a massive 81% of digital nomads report being happy with their work and lifestyle, which is pretty huge in comparison to the overall negative sentiment shown by people working 9 to 5s. 

While there are definitely pros to being a digital nomad, there are certainly cons too.

The good news for individuals interested in becoming digital nomads is that you can work from absolutely anywhere you want, you can work more flexible hours, and potentially partner up with some super cool clients that’ll massively impact your career. 

The bad news? Payments can be more inconsistent than a day job, it’s a higher risk/higher reward strategy, and dealing with a variety of employers can always be a challenge. If you’re travelling you’ll also be away from family and there are simply a lot more plates to carry here. 

Truth is, working remotely is a dream for a lot of people, but one that often is too risky or too inconsistent to be worth it. It all depends on what you value in life and how you want to work – if you love your peace and stability, maybe stick to a regular job, or if you love travelling and being a free spirit, take the risk!