In the era of digital technology, every single person must be acquainted with the term ‘digital nomadism’. However, a detailed introduction to the term is given here in case you lack knowledge regarding it. People who work remotely from anywhere in the world by utilizing laptops, mobile and wireless networks, or other technologies are defined as digital nomads.
The term ‘digital nomad’ actually comes from a book of the same name by Tsugio Makimoto and David Manners in 1997. The authors predicted the future of the high-tech traveling lifestyle. Though working from anywhere gained momentum in the late 1990s when WiFi became available, the actual acceleration behind the working lifestyle was the pandemic of 2020. When office workers were unable to go to their office or working location due to corona, millions of them were told to work from home and many were fired. At the same time, some governments lured talented digital nomads to work in their country with attractive compensation. Since then, the number of digital nomads has spiked. The work field is vast with numerous opportunities like graphic designing, online marketing, researching, content writing, software development, etc. With time it is flourishing and attracting more people.
There are several reasons why digital nomadism has gained such prominence. For instance:
Flexibility: The biggest benefit that attracts most people to work from home is the flexibility it offers. You can work from anywhere, anytime. The only requirement is an internet connection and a laptop or mobile.
Work-Life balance: As it gives the flexibility of time, workers get enough time for their personal lives. For instance, one doesn’t have to sacrifice any important events due to working schedules like people who work in the office.
Lower cost of living: Digital nomads can choose countries where they want to live. For example, an employee can live in Southeast Asia while working for more developed cities like New York or London.
Culture exploration: Since digital nomads can work for other countries, they get the chance to explore new cultures and new languages. This often leads to personal growth by broadening the worldview of a person.
Let’s move on to the next phase of the blog which is about the impact of Digital Nomadism on Economies.
Job Creation and Entrepreneurship
Digital nomads often create new job opportunities when they reach a certain position where the work pressures are so heavy that they can’t handle the load single-handedly. Also, since they get the flexibility of place and time, they often delve into local business for personal growth.
Inspiring Growth in Tech
Since the primary requirement for digital nomadism is digital tech, the tech companies and their productions are expanding over time. Sometimes communities benefit from faster internet and tech hubs. Subsequently, local businesses along with gig companies flourished.
Attracting Global Talent to Cities and Countries
Many countries and cities are attracting talented digital nomads for better performance. Some programs do more than just attract them; they bring in several foreign investments for business growth and new job opportunities.
Transforming Lesser-Known Areas
Digital nomads don’t only work for famous cities, they work for many smaller, rural and underdeveloped places. These places benefit a lot from digital nomadism. For example, places like Ubud in Bali or Canggu have transformed from quiet towns to bustling hubs since nomads showed interest in these areas.
Building Global Networks for Local Entrepreneurs
Digital nomads often bridge the gap between local entrepreneurs and global markets. A local business owner may get exposure to global customers through partnerships with nomads.
The benefits of digital nomadism can’t overshadow the challenges of increased job competition. Due to the work style, many locals are finding it difficult to find a job. Sometimes the nomads face exploitation in terms of wages in various industries. Along with these, if a particular circumstance is created where nomads are unable to connect to the internet for a long time like one week, they become unable to complete their task within the assigned time. As a result, many workers get fired.
However, by now, we have all observed that digital nomadism is not merely a passing trend but a permanent shift in work and lifestyle. So, we must balance the opportunity and responsibility to create a more connected, diverse, and prosperous global economy.
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Writer
Kazi Mirana Mainuddin
Intern
Content Writing Department
YSSE.