The latest quarterly Flexible Working Index has revealed a significant shift in the preferences of both employers and job seekers when it comes to remote work. While employers are moving away from remote work arrangements, job seekers continue to show a strong demand for the flexibility of working from home. This trend highlights the importance of offering location-based flexibility in today’s job market.
According to the Index, there were 305 candidates searching for every one “remote-first” role in the last quarter. This type of role allows for the option of working remotely without the obligation to come into the office. Interestingly, nearly three-quarters of firms currently trying to recruit have found it challenging to fill vacancies, indicating a mismatch between employer expectations and job seeker preferences.
The data analyzed in the Index comes from Flexa, a platform that connects flexible companies with job seekers. The analysis included insights from over 360,000 job searches and 2,200 job adverts between July and September 2023, providing a comprehensive view of the evolving trends in the flexible jobs market.
One notable finding from the Index is the increase in roles requiring more office attendance. While fully remote roles remained low at 4% of job posts, remote-first roles saw a sharp decline of 22% over the last three months. This shift suggests that companies are moving towards a hybrid model of work, where some office presence is expected but flexibility in location is still offered.
Roles offering three to four work-from-home days per week were more common than fully remote roles, representing over a third of all job adverts in September. However, the demand for roles with one to two work-from-home days per week has surged, doubling in the last quarter. This trend indicates a growing preference among job seekers for some level of location-based flexibility in their work arrangements.
Molly Johnson-Jones, co-founder and CEO of Flexa, commented on the trend, noting that while some companies are calling workers back into offices, a majority still offer some degree of location-based flexibility. Whether employees work from home four days a week or just one, it still qualifies as a form of flexibility that is valued by job seekers.
When it comes to job seekers’ preferences, the data shows that the more remote work days a role offers, the more popular it is among job seekers. Between July and September, over half of workers were searching for fully remote jobs, while 41% were looking for remote-first roles. This highlights the importance of offering a range of flexible working options to attract top talent in today’s competitive job market.
Overall, the latest Flexible Working Index provides valuable insights into the evolving trends in the flexible jobs market. As companies navigate the changing landscape of work arrangements, offering location-based flexibility can be a key differentiator in attracting and retaining top talent. By understanding and adapting to the preferences of both employers and job seekers, organizations can create a more inclusive and productive work environment for all.
