Remote jobs consistently popular in the UK

Even amid recession fears, workers still demand remote work more than anything

LONDON, ENGLAND — More than three years after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased the instance of remote work across the world, remote jobs remain wildly popular among the UK workforce.

This despite changing and challenging labour conditions, and mixed views towards remote work as some companies introduced return-to-office mandates over the last year.

The consistent popularity of remote jobs indicates that it will likely remain a permanent feature of the labour market, opined Joseph Boll, Remote Worker CEO.

Further, with Indeed Hiring Lab projecting a tight labour market to come, it’s all the more likely that businesses will continue using remote work and similar flexible options to attract and retain talent even as the worst of the pandemic recedes.

Remote job searches reach record heights

In a recent report outlining the state of the UK labour market at the end of 2022, Indeed noted, “If the labour market does stay reasonably tight despite a recession, that could allay fears of the balance of power shifting too far in favour of employers, some of whom might seek to curtail some post-pandemic forms of flexibility.

“In particular, remote work remains highly desired by candidates.

“Searches on Indeed containing terms related to remote work have risen over the course of the year to stand at record heights.

“For jobs that can’t be done remotely, other forms of flexibility including around hours and shift patterns have been a focus for employers struggling to hire.”

This has been a consistent trend for most of the last year, Boll added, with dozens of similar studies also pointing to the same findings.

In this “tug-of-war” over remote work, it can be expected that remote workers will be on the winning side in the months ahead.

Staffing challenges could mean better prospects for remote workers

Recession fears and continued staffing challenges could also be a silver lining for remote workers and those looking for more flexibility.

While, on the surface, that data looks concerning, it also puts employees in an ideal position to negotiate the best possible working conditions.

After all, the Great Resignation has not slowed even this far into the pandemic, and the Office for National Statistics has indicated an all-time-low ratio of unemployed people to vacancies.

In this environment, recruiters, hiring managers and employers may be more willing to concede remote or flexible work options to avoid labour shortages — or even to “poach” top talent from competitors.

Find the latest remote jobs in the UK via RemoteWorker.co.uk.

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References:

Indeed Hiring Lab report: “Tough Times Ahead for the UK Economy, but Labour Market Remains Resilient”