Americans are lonely. We're so lonely, in fact, the US Surgeon General has issued a warning on a "loneliness epidemic." Our modern lifestyle can be particularly isolating for remote workers. How do we foster community in 2025?
At Howdy.com, we understand the value of community — even when our teams are dispersed. Our latest survey explores how Americans approach community in the workplace and beyond.
The workplace loneliness epidemic
The nationwide loneliness epidemic has clocked into work. While 62% of US workers report having at least one coworker they consider a personal friend, 17% say they’re lonely at work and 30% wish their workplace had more community.
Community matters to US employees. 77% of workers say they’re more productive with a sense of community and 73% believe it's crucial to their well-being. Over 1 in 3 workers say that their leadership isn’t prioritizing community.
Remote workers are especially lonely
Remote work flexibility comes at the price of loneliness. Over 1 in 3 remote workers feel isolated and 57% feel they need to leave the house more.
Remote work has also atrophied our social skills. 36% of remote workers say they don’t know how to make friends as an adult, and 1 in 4 say their social skills are worse than ten years ago.
1 in 5 Americans feel isolated in 2025
Americans average 3.7 hours daily outside the home
Americans aren't getting outside of the house much. Across in-person, hybrid, and remote workers, US employees average around 3.7 hours outside the home per day. Remote workers specifically average a measly 1.9 hours outside the home daily.
Many of us are eager to make a change. 44% of US workers feel they need to leave the house more often and 53% wish they had more friends. Unfortunately, many don’t know where to start: 20% say they don’t know how to make friends as an adult, and one in five report making no new friends in the last year.
Around 1 in 3 US workers made between 1 and 2 new friends in the last year. 1 in 10 social butterflies managed to make 5 or more.
Nearly 1 in 4 Americans consider an AI chatbot to be a friend
Seeking connection, many of us are turning AI chatbots. Nearly half (48%) of Americans have talked to an AI chatbot like a friend. 84% say it provided a sense of companionship. Just over half (51%) consider an AI chatbot a friend.
Hunger for connection may be clouding our judgment. A previous Howdy.com survey found just over half of tech workers have been catfished by AI.
Where do Americans make new friends in 2025?
48% of US workers say it's become tricky to meet new people post-pandemic. Here are the top places they have had the most luck:
- 34% work or school
- 20% in person, by chance
- 13% meetup groups
- 11% clubs and/or sports teams
- 8% online, via social media
Nearly half (47%) of Americans feel less connected than a decade ago.
Some of us are more optimistic. 1 in 3 US workers feel more connected. A further 53% also note their social skills have improved in the last ten years. Roughly 3 in 4 say they feel a sense of community in 2025.
Top social locations in 2025
When Americans do socialize, where do they go? Here are the top locations for hanging with friends in 2025:
- Bars & restaurants (53%)
- Public spaces/parks (49%)
- Shopping (42%)
- The gym/workout classes (40%)
- Coffee shops (36%)
Notably, hanging out at most of these locations involves spending money. This might be why 56% of American workers say that cost of living has damaged their social lives.
Social media unites and divides us
Nearly all Americans use social media. 58% of US workers say they’ve increased their time on social media by an average of 4 hours daily over the last 10 years. 85% feel that social media fosters a sense of community — even if they have controversial creators.
American workers say these platforms offer the most connection:
- Facebook 28%
- Instagram 19%
- X/Twitter 18%
- TikTok 16%
- Reddit 7%
US employees say these platforms create the least connection:
- X/Twitter 18%
- Facebook 13%
- Instagram 12%
- LinkedIn 11%
- TikTok 11%
Bottom line? Community is important to us. It's also an endangered concept — particularly for remote workers.
As a global hiring platform that helps US companies build a remote workforce, Howdy.com is committed to fostering a vibrant workplace community among our team members. We have a network of physical offices across Latin America where we host regular lunches, happy hours, and community events to connect Howdy professionals with their teammates. Book a demo to learn more about the Howdy.com difference.
Methodology & fair use
In April 2025, we surveyed 1,004 Americans with full-time jobs on how they approach community in both their work and personal lives. Ages ranged from 18 to 75, with an average age of 40. 50% were men, 49% were women, and 1% were nonbinary or did not say. 41% were in-person workers, 39% hybrid, and 20% remote. 42% work in tech.
For media inquiries, please contact media@digitalthirdcoast.net
Fair use
When using this data and research, please attribute by linking to this study and citing Howdy.com.