Remote Work: A Hotly Contested Trend Despite Corporate Pushbacks

In the post-pandemic business world, it is increasingly rare to find managers who continue to praise the benefits of full remote work. Executives of the world's largest companies are increasingly retreating from flexible work models to gain more control over their employees and make better use of their expensive office spaces. Nevertheless, those who hold on to the advantages of remote work could reap the benefits of a growing pool of talent. According to new data from LinkedIn, the share of remote positions on the job platform has significantly declined in 2023. While numbers in the UK have fallen by more than 13% and in Ireland by more than 21%, the declines in Germany, France, and the Netherlands are even higher. However, this message does not seem to have reached the applicants, who continue to show great interest in remote work. Two out of five applications on the job site in the UK, Ireland, and Germany are for remote positions, a figure that has barely changed since the beginning of 2023. LinkedIn therefore predicts that especially skilled applicants will compete for fewer remote jobs, which could present a promising opportunity for open-minded employers. Josh Graff, Managing Director for EMEA & LATAM and Vice President at LinkedIn, says: "It is clear that companies offering flexibility will attract the best talent." He emphasizes how important it is for corporate leaders to consider the comprehensive benefits of flexible work models, which have been proven to promote workforce diversity and are particularly appealing to people with caregiving responsibilities. The impact of the pandemic on the remote work world is still noticeable. For instance, one in ten positions in the UK is advertised as remote, which is significantly more than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, LinkedIn's data analysis shows a discrepancy between rigid employers and employees demanding flexibility. According to a survey by FlexJobs published in October, most employees stated that remote work is more important to them than salary, work-life balance, or a good boss. Many would even be willing to take pay cuts to retain a remote position. However, this concession falls on deaf ears with most employers, as they have intensified their anti-remote work rhetoric in recent months, aiming to bring employees back fully into the office.