The United States is comprised of approximately 72-percent rural lands, yet only 15 percent (46.2 million people) actually reside in those areas, and the numbers continue to decrease each year. With the rise in millennials moving to more urbanized areas, the state of our nation’s rural communities is at stake. That’s where flexible work comes into play. Flexible work is a proven solution for helping yet another population gain access to valuable employment options.
Here are three ways in which flexible work can boost employment options for individuals living in rural areas:
1. It can improve the local economy.
Flexible work can actually improve the local economy of rural areas by enabling more residents to stay put, regardless of what jobs may or may not be available to them in their area. In addition, telecommuting allows residents to invest their money in the local economy by supporting local businesses and contributing to the overall growth and sustainability of the region.
2. It can increase job opportunities.
Those living in rural areas are limited in some ways to the types of jobs they can hold. Many rural areas offer very few employment opportunities, forcing professionals to either travel long distances or be removed from the workforce completely.
Telecommuting and other types of flexible work enable professionals to gain employment regardless of their location, which can open up a wealth of job opportunities otherwise not available to them.
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3. It can help communities retain residents.
If rural communities are not offering enough job opportunities, then residents will inevitably be forced to look for employment opportunities elsewhere—often leading them to urban areas. One of small town America’s biggest problems is creating communities that are appealing to younger generations who are being increasingly drawn to larger and more populated territories.
As more professionals in rural areas become aware and open to the possibility of telecommuting, small communities will stand a greater chance of surviving and thriving as a result.
Below, we highlight some of the many testimonials received from our members who have used FlexJobs to find flexible employment options in rural areas:
1. “My husband and I were planning to relocate to a small, rural area with very few jobs. He had a job secured, but I did not. Within two months of signing up, I was interviewing for three different remote positions. I actually had options! Thank you for helping to make my family’s dream of living and working in our ideal location come true!”
– Jessica E. from Trinidad, California, who found a job as a support engineer for Invision App
2. “I live in a rural area where jobs are sometimes hard to find. Due to health reasons, I was no longer able to lift and bend the way most traditional nursing jobs require. Although I was not specifically looking for a telecommuting position, that was what I found and I love it! I really did not want to settle for a local position simply because it met my physical requirements. With FlexJobs, I found a telecommuting job that enables me to use the skills and knowledge I have developed over the years, without the demands of a physical, traditional nursing position. “
– Renee S. from Leonardtown, Maryland, who found a job as a care coordinator RN with EQ Health Solutions
3. “I am a stay-at-home mom and live in a rural community in north Idaho, so finding an HR job in my town isn’t a possibility. I would have had to commute an hour each way to the nearest city daily to find a job. This was not something I was willing to do as it would have meant a very dangerous commute each day in the winter and significant time away from my family. I started researching places to find non-traditional, legitimate work from home jobs. Enter FlexJobs. Within my 3-month subscription, I found the perfect job after taking the last four years off to be a mother. I couldn’t be more thrilled about my job, and I’m thankful that this site exists. It was nice to not have to worry about scams.”
– Jennifer R. from Saint Maries, Idaho, who found a job as a team builder-counselor with DVMelite
4. “I’m a young millennial with different ideas about how we can find the balance between work and home life, eliminating carbon emissions through reducing commutes, offices, etc. As a resident of a rural community, I also face serious geographical limitations within my career field. I was apprehensive about paying for a monthly subscription at first, but after a few quick searches and checking out the BBB I found FlexJobs to be highly reputable. Within a month of taking the plunge and signing up with FlexJobs, I had a final interview where I was offered the job on the spot! Thank you FlexJobs and the people behind this amazing visionary machine! You truly changed my life and opened new doors that I didn’t know existed.”
– Marlisa L. from Huntington, West Virginia, who found a job as an instructional designer with Pearson Online & Blended Learning K-12
5. “I live in a rural area so the jobs available are very limited. FlexJobs allows me to apply for exciting and rewarding positions that wouldn’t be available to me otherwise. I got a job that I am very excited about all thanks to FlexJobs.”
-Elizabeth H. from Bayfield, Colorado, who found a job as an email marketing assistant with Amare, Inc.
From stay-at-home parents returning to the workforce to those who moved from an urban to a rural area, flexible work has helped a range of populations gain valuable employment options that otherwise would not have been available to them due to their location.
Check out the many additional benefits of allowing employees a flexible schedule.
Photo Credit: bigstockphoto.com
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