Remote-work opportunities are beginning to shrink over time—despite its popularity.
Key Details
- A LinkedIn study in the U.K. shows that available remote jobs are becoming less prevalent.
- “Remote working may have peaked in the U.K. as a loosening labor market hands power back to employers,” says Bloomberg.
- As we previously reported, job listings for remote positions are declining. LinkedIn found that 20% of job listings in February were remote but by September only 14% had remote options.
- The U.K. saw a similar drop from 16% in January to 12% in September.
- “[LinkedIn] found that three out of four bosses in the U.K. are concerned that the current economic slowdown means they will have to go back to flexible working,” says Bloomberg.
Why it’s News
The corporate world is still in disagreement about how to approach the issue of remote work. Studies have shown that having the option of remote work is preferred by a majority of employees but CEOs and employers are nervous about how it affects productivity and company culture.
Remote and hybrid job listings in September only represented 12% of U.K. jobs but received 20% of all applications, Bloomberg reports.
As we previously reported, roughly 27 million employees in the United States currently work from home. AT&T and Apple faced backlash for attempting to mandate remote workers to return to the office. Workers are beginning to realize that they have opportunities elsewhere and are exercising more demand for greater flexibility.
“Microsoft Corp. research found that 80% of managers felt their teams were less productive when they were not in the office. About 85% of managers worry they can’t tell if employees are getting enough done, while 87% of workers say their productivity is just fine,” says Bloomberg.
Other companies like Airbnb see profit opportunities in remote work and are leaning into it as a chance to take advantage of the trend.
Notable Quote
“[The power is] shifting back to employers as hiring slows down. It’s certainly a tight labor market, but it is starting to loosen, and economic uncertainty is beginning to threaten the pandemic progress that we saw over the last couple of years … [There is a] growing disconnect between what professionals want and what employers are offering,” says LinkedIn managing director Josh Graff.