PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania workers would surrender an average of $3,307 in annual salary to eliminate their commute, according to a national survey that highlights the financial value employees place on avoiding traffic and the resulting pressure on employers to offer workplace flexibility.
The survey of 3,017 workers by career-services platform Resume.io found that 59% would accept a lower-paying job with another employer if it significantly reduced their commute.
Respondents were asked how much annual compensation they would forgo to avoid commuting, beyond what they already spend on transportation, vehicle maintenance and other travel expenses.
Pennsylvania commuters assigned the highest value to avoiding Interstate 95 through Philadelphia, at $3,414 annually. Interstate 76, the Schuylkill Expressway, followed at $3,391, while Interstate 376, Pittsburgh’s Parkway East, was valued at $3,118.
The findings indicate that commuting conditions can directly influence hiring and retention. Forty-six percent of respondents reported rejecting a job because the commute was too long or difficult.
Workers were less willing to relocate than change employers: Only 36% would move to a less desirable neighborhood to significantly shorten their commute.
“Employers may think of the commute as something that happens outside of working hours, but employees don’t necessarily see it that way,” Resume.io career expert Amanda Augustine stated. “A difficult commute can influence whether someone accepts a job in the first place, pursues a promotion, or decides it’s time to look for an opportunity elsewhere.”
The survey also linked commuting to personal and health consequences. Thirty-one percent identified stress or anxiety as the greatest cost, followed by reduced family time at 25% and lost sleep at 23%.
Other respondents cited less time to exercise, 7%; reduced social activity, 6%; lower job satisfaction, 5%; and poorer eating habits, 3%.
Forty-four percent reported that commuting had negatively affected their physical or mental health.
Several routes outside Pennsylvania carried higher estimated salary trade-offs. Workers would forgo $6,116 annually to avoid Rhode Island’s Route 6/10 Interchange and $5,261 to avoid Interstate 95 through the Wilmington Viaduct in Delaware.
Respondents placed the value of avoiding Louisiana’s Interstate 10/Interstate 12 split at $4,882, followed by New York’s Cross Bronx Expressway at $4,850 and Idaho’s Chinden Boulevard corridor at $4,806.
The survey also examined expectations surrounding return-to-office policies. Forty-two percent of workers believe employers should provide one to two months’ notice before increasing mandatory office attendance, while 26% consider less than one month sufficient.
Another 18% preferred three to five months’ notice, 9% wanted at least six months and 5% expected at least a year.
Augustine indicated that employers do not necessarily need to permit fully remote work but should consider the effect of commuting on recruitment and employee retention.
“Employers that offer some degree of flexibility, give employees reasonable notice when attendance requirements change, and are thoughtful about when in-person work is truly necessary will be in a better position to attract and retain talent,” she stated.
For local traffic updates and commuter information, visit the MyChesCo Traffic Center at https://www.mychesco.com/traffic/.
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