U.S. Commuting Rebounds But Remains Below Pre-Pandemic Levels as Costs Rise
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The number of U.S. workers commuting to work has rebounded from pandemic lows but remains below pre-pandemic levels, even as vehicle ownership costs rise sharply.
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In 2022, 77% of American workers, or 124 million people, still commuted to work, up 7.5 million from the prior year.
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Lower-earning service and manufacturing workers are less likely to be able to work from home and more affected by increasing commuting costs.
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Strategies to reduce commuting costs include shopping around for cheaper car insurance, using gas station loyalty programs and rewards credit cards, and carpooling.
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Though some remote work is here to stay, the majority of U.S. jobs require in-person work, so most workers must find ways to reduce their commuting costs.