Telecommuting has significantly transformed daily routines across the U.S., influencing how and when people hit the road. With 13.8% of full-time workers now working remotely part-time or more, up from 5.7% in 2019​, traditional commuting peaks have shifted, creating new traffic dynamics. And the Valley of the Sun is part of the trend with remote work helping to reshape the traffic flow in Phoenix.

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Telecommuting has changed the U.S.’ work environment, but it has also been one of the many factors that led to modifications in traffic patterns. To see how WFH assisted in changing the traffic across the states, we analyzed traffic volume, congestion and work from home levels for more than 80 cities across the U.S.

Here are our observations regarding Phoenix:

  • The number of people working from home in Phoenix surged 172% from 2019 to 2023, meaning that by 2023, 17.4% of the city’s workforce was telecommuting;
  • Despite more people telecommuting in Phoenix, congestion levels rose 28%, reaching 23% by 2023;
  • This mirrors the statewide trend, with Arizona noticing an increase of 12% in traffic volume—making it the state with the highest surge in traffic volume in the West.

But is WFH a one-size-fits-all solution to fixing the traffic congestion problem? To answer this question, we looked at traffic volume and work from home levels for more than 80 cities across the U.S. We also took into account traffic congestion as provided by TomTom’s traffic index, comparing 2019 and 2023 congestion levels. These levels are measured as the percentage of extra travel time in traffic versus free-flow conditions.

Despite telecommuting being one of the key factors reshaping traffic patterns across the U.S., its impact on congestion is far from consistent. And while remote work can alleviate some congestion, it is not an across-the-board solution. As more people continue to telecommute, cities must adapt their transportation strategies to address the evolving traffic dynamics and manage growing road usage beyond just peak commuting hours. 

California Finds Traffic Relief in Remote Work, While the Rest of the West Stays Gridlocked

In the Western U.S., WFH adoption surged from 6.1% in 2019 to 16.5% in 2023, particularly in tech hubs like San Jose and San Diego, where congestion decreased. However, fast-growing cities like Phoenix faced rising traffic despite increased remote work.

Salt Lake City, UT saw a 16% decrease in congestion despite Utah experiencing a 7% rise in state traffic volume. Salt Lake City’s WFH rate grew by 182%, particularly among the city’s tech and financial sectors. 

In San Diego, CA, congestion levels decreased by 12% between 2019 and 2023. California’s state traffic volume saw a 10% decrease during the same period, and San Diego’s WFH adoption rose significantly—120%. This surge in remote work, particularly in sectors like finance and information, allowed the city to manage congestion more effectively, even as it continued to grow economically. In fact, in 2019, remote job postings made up only eight and four percent of total job postings in Finance and Information, respectively. In 2023, those proportions grew to 26 and 15%. 

Meanwhile, Fresno, CA, experienced a 10% reduction in congestion, driven by a growing WFH rate, which rose from 5.6% to 10.5%, along with California’s broader traffic volume decrease. 

In San Jose, CA, telecommuting didn’t have as strong of an impact as expected, with congestion dropping by only 9%, despite a 236% increase in WFH adoption—the second highest in the region. Tucson, AZ, on the other hand, faced a 32% increase in congestion, even though WFH adoption doubled. Tucson’s reliance on in-person sectors like construction and real estate limited the positive effects of remote work, showing that telecommuting alone can’t always offset economic and population growth pressures.

WFH Uptick Can’t Solve Traffic Troubles in Phoenix and Oxnard

In both Oxnard, CA, and Thousand Oaks, CA, congestion rose significantly by 56%. While WFH adoption saw notable growth—Oxnard experienced a 127% increase, with telecommuting rising from 3.3% to 7.5%, and Thousand Oaks saw an even larger 180% increase, with WFH rates growing from 8.1% to 22.7%—these changes were not enough to curb the rise in road usage. 

Further inland, Phoenix, AZ, faced a similar trend. In fact, Phoenix saw a whopping 28% increase in congestion. Arizona’s state traffic volume grew by 12%, reflecting the city’s rapid population growth and economic expansion. Although WFH adoption in Phoenix increased almost twofold, from 6.4% to 17.4%, the city’s booming real estate and construction sectors contributed to heavier road use, making it difficult for telecommuting to fully curb the rise in congestion.