Who are digital nomads, the new generation of remote workers?

**Bababam** (0:04)
Who are digital nomads? The new generation of remote workers.
Thanks for asking.
Since the first COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, remote work has become commonplace in companies around the world. Working from home offers many advantages, and work from anywhere policies take this freedom one step further. Many employees have said yes please, and some have even packed their bags to become digital nomads. These people earn a living working online, all the while moving freely around the world. Has this lifestyle always been popular? The rise of the digital nomad lifestyle has always been in line with technological advances. As early as 1964, British sci-fi writer and inventor Arthur C. Clarke predicted that technology would allow people to work while traveling in a BBC Horizon documentary.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:58)
It will be possible in that age, perhaps only 50 years from now, for a man to conduct his business from Tahiti or Bali just as well as he could from London.

**Bababam** (1:10)
In ensuing decades, the emergence of portable computers, the internet, wifi and so on would gradually enable the digital nomad lifestyle to become a reality. The term itself was first coined by Tsugio Makimoto and David Manners in 1997, when they co-authored a book called Digital Nomad. It's been labeled a manifesto for indefinite remote working. Much of what they envisaged proved to come true, with services like PayPal, Skype and Upwork making it easier to be a digital nomad. And the 2007 self-help book The Four Hour Work Week by American entrepreneur Timothy Ferris also describes techniques on how to reduce work time without earning less. It advised focusing on the important things in life and travel in particular. What kind of jobs did Digital Nomad do? According to research carried out by MBO partners, the pandemic caused a major shift. The biggest change is that people in traditional jobs like teaching and recruiting can now also become Digital Nomads. The total number of American Digital Nomads in traditional jobs increased by 42% in 2021, growing to 10.2 million from 6.3 million the previous year.
Pre-pandemic, the most popular fields for Digital Nomads included IT, followed by creative services and education and training. The recent rise of freelancing platforms has allowed for people to offer many services online. These include translation, copywriting, video editing, logo making, coding, social media management and many more. What might the future of Digital Nomads look like then? People have realized that they enjoy the flexibility of the lifestyle, but there are some practical things to consider, especially if you want to make it a long-term thing. First of all, does your line of work really fit with being a Digital Nomad? Also, can you afford travel and accommodation in the various places you want to work from? To avoid visa complications, many Digital Nomads spend between one and three months in a city or country before moving on to the next one. Being a Digital Nomad isn't for everyone, but it sure can be an exciting adventure for those who choose to pursue becoming one.
There you have it.
Now you know who Digital Nomads are. In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts, and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know it for sure.
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