Rural Bridges

What is e-Work and Rural Telework?

Our information-based, global economy provides hope and opportunities for new jobs in rural communities. Information and communications technology allows many forms of work to be done from anywhere. E-work describes work performed using these technologies. E-work can include local rural businesses using e-commerce to reach a wider customer base or expanding their information-based jobs by providing outsourcing services. It can also include jobs that are recruited to a rural community from companies located outside the area.

When e-work is performed at a location other than a central office, it is known as telework (also called telecommuting). The number of teleworkers nationwide jumped from 4 million in 1990 to 23.5 million in 2002. While the majority of teleworkers are in urban areas and working one or two days a week at home, today it is possible for this e-work to occur anywhere. Telework is effective for a broad range of jobs especially for knowledge workers from word processing and data entry to software engineers and writers.

With extensive e-work expertise in the area of telework, Washington State University (WSU) began exploring applications for rural areas. When urban businesses offer e-work opportunities in rural communities it is known as rural telework. Teleworkers can either work for these companies as employees or under contract. Although some businesses may chose to develop a facility to house operations, telework does not require expensive relocation or expansion costs. There are a variety of models of rural telework from individuals working out of home-based offices to telework centers where multiple employers have employees working in a shared facility. These telework centers can also serve as a community technology resource site, providing access and training on computers and the Internet. Another example of rural telework is the expansion of current operations into rural communities, as is the case with call centers or customer service branch offices. Telework is flexible and scalable, based on the needs and interests of employers, communities and individual workers.

The overall economy is strengthened and diversified by rural telework. Rural telework jobs provide urban employers with an expanded labor pool to help supply hard-to-find talent and reduce operating costs resulting from lower wages, facility costs and turnover. Each job located outside urban areas may mean one less commuter in peak hour traffic a potentially positive impact on the current infrastructure and environment. Telework jobs benefit rural communities by providing living wage jobs, reducing out-migration, providing year-round employment and diversifying the economy in regions experiencing depletion in natural resource-based jobs.

Creating or expanding e-work opportunities can be a new strategy included in economic development plans for rural communities. In order for e-work to be successful, communities must have three essential elements in place sufficient telecommunications infrastructure, workforce development capacity and interest in securing information-based jobs. E-work provides a return on telecommunications infrastructure investments by strategically utilizing this resource to benefit rural communities through the creation of information-based jobs.

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