Perspectives on the Future of Work: December 19

Upwork’s biweekly column brings you the latest news on the future of work, including trends, freelancing, and other shifts in the way we get things done.

Freelancing in America, a study commissioned by Upwork and Freelancers Union, found freelancers are just as likely to live in a rural area as in urban hubs; their distribution across the U.S. mirrors that of the rest of the working population.

That doesn’t mean the changing future of work isn’t having an impact on city life, however. This week’s roundup highlights how:

• When you don’t have to get to an office, the idea of commuting takes on a different concept—with potentially interesting ways to shift the experience.
• Commuting patterns across the U.S. show traditional municipal and political boundaries are taking a back seat with the growth of “mega-regions.”
• Cities can adapt to meet the needs of modern workers

Here’s a look at the latest headlines:

Quartz | In the Future, People Will Actually Look Forward to Their Daily Commutes

Avoiding a daily commute is one of the perks of running your own business, but that doesn’t mean commuting and city planning issues don’t impact you—time spent in the car, on the train, or on your bike still matters whatever your purpose.

What if that time was actually beneficial? That’s one of the questions IDEO and Ford Motor Company are pondering: “How can we design urban mobility to support and boost people’s creativity and productivity?”

Predicting people will increasingly work remotely, Luis Cilimingras, managing director of IDEO, wonders what more supportive transport could look like. Could schedules be more predictable and on-demand? What if self-driving office pods could bring the workspace to you?

Wired | Mesmerizing Commute Maps Reveal We All Live in Mega-Regions, Not Cities

A study recently published by PLoS ONE provides a fascinating look at the commutes of 130 million people, with some interesting insights.

“Americans’ commutes aren’t defined by city and state lines,” Aarian Marshall explained. “Rather, commuters move within megaregions—massive blobs that center on major metropolitan areas, paying no mind to political borders.

The study’s authors hope their research will help people and planners make better decisions as they plan ahead.

Fast Company | 6 Ways Cities Can Prepare for the Future of Work

With the growing freelance economy, remote work, and other factors like automation, a new report from the National League of Cities (NLC) says cities need to be prepared.

“Cities, it says, need to come up with policies—from new types of infrastructure to new forms of unemployment insurance—to mitigate the shift to nonconventional employment,” said writer Ben Schiller.

Among the recommendations from the NLC: Investing in broadband, creating more community spaces where people can gather and work, and looking at new options for insurance.

How has the future of work changed where you live? Share your experience in the comments below.

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