The flexible jobs market in the UK is experiencing a significant boom, with job advertisements for flexible positions up by more than 60% compared to this time last year. This surge highlights employees’ steadfast demand for work-from-home options, even as companies push for a return to the office.
Exclusive data shared with City A.M. by Flexa reveals that there has been a 62% increase in flexible job adverts compared to the same period last year. Flexa’s analysis, based on insights from over 4,000 job adverts, 840,000 job searches, and preferences from more than 8,500 job seekers between January and March 2024, paints a clear picture of the evolving labour market.
Despite a general decrease in job vacancies across various sectors, Flexa recorded a 32% increase in flexible job posts this quarter compared to the previous quarter, rising from 3,073 to 4,056.
Interestingly, nearly a third (31%) of all current job roles offer a remote-first approach, where office attendance is optional. However, there has been a decline in the number of these roles, dropping by 26% since the beginning of the year (from 43% in January to 31% in March).
Companies such as TUI Group, Blood Cancer UK, and WeTransfer are currently offering remote-first work options, reflecting the growing demand from employees for flexible working arrangements.
The data further reveals that job seekers are increasingly seeking fully remote roles, with 52% of workers now searching for positions that do not require any office attendance. This represents an 11% increase between January and March, up from 47% to 52%.
Commenting on the findings, Molly Johnson-Jones, co-founder and CEO of Flexa, highlighted that the current employer-led labour market and the push for a return to the office are illuminating employees’ true desires. She noted that while many are willing to compromise on certain aspects of flexibility, there are core flexible working benefits that job seekers are unwilling to forgo.
The growing emphasis on flexible working is further supported by recent changes in employment laws, which now allow employees to request flexible working from ‘day one’ of their employment, rather than waiting for at least 26 weeks.
As companies navigate the evolving landscape of work arrangements, it is becoming increasingly clear that flexible working options are not just a trend but a fundamental aspect of the modern workplace that employees are not willing to compromise on.
