Individuals who live anywhere in the world while in constant touch with their work via the Internet. Also called a "location independent professional," digital nomads enjoy the freedom of traveling or periodically relocating while continuing their career.
COVID Was Motivation
Starting in 2020 when many American workers began working remotely, many people who had thought of living abroad took advantage of the circumstances. Today, it is estimated that up to nine million Americans live abroad, many of which do so because of the ever-increasing cost of living in the U.S.
2025: Net Negative in More Than Ninety Years
In 2025, the U.S. had net negative migration of approximately 150,000 people. The last time the country lost more people than it gained was during the Great Depression in the 1930s. See
virtual company.