Evolving work patterns offer insight for Oklahoma City employers

Evolving work patterns and consistently shorter commute times are shaping how employers in the Oklahoma City metro attract and retain talent, according to recent national analysis of remote work and travel habits. 

Work-from-home participation in the metro climbed sharply during the pandemic, rising from 3.9% of workers in 2019 to a peak of 13.6% in 2021. Since then, the share of workers primarily working from home has trended downward as companies reassess policies and hybrid or in-person models have become more common. In 2024, about 10.1% of workers in the Oklahoma City metro said working from home was their primary arrangement, down modestly from 2023. Compared to 2019, the metro has about 23,643 more workers reporting remote work, a 190% increase, but the data makes clear the shift has softened from pandemic peaks. Yardi Kube 

At the same time, commute patterns underscore an important quality-of-life advantage. YardiKube’s 2025 commute analysis ranked Oklahoma City with the sixth lowest average one-way drive times. The metro posted an average commute of about 21.9 minutes in 2024, placing it near the top of the list for the shortest commutes in the nation.   

Shorter commute times remain a competitive asset for Oklahoma City. National commute averages continue to hover near pre-pandemic levels, with many large urban areas seeing longer travel times as more employees return to the office. In contrast, Oklahoma City’s relatively brief drive times help workers save hours each week, contributing to a stronger quality of life and increased productivity potential. Yardi Kube 

For employers, these trends offer timely insight. As businesses make decisions about remote work policies and workplace expectations, understanding how commute realities intersect with employee preferences is critical to recruiting and retaining top talent. Oklahoma City’s combination of a growing workforce, evolving work arrangements and shorter travel times positions the region well in a competitive labor market. 

The data in this analysis comes from YardiKube’s national study of commute times and work-from-home trends, drawn from U.S. Census Bureau data and published in YardiKube’s “U.S. Commute Times and Work-From-Home Statistics.” Readers can explore the full study and metro rankings at YardiKube.