You need and the jobs Hybrid working here to stay as employees look for flexible opportunities

The majority of UK businesses (89 per cent) expect ‘hybrid’ workforces to become a permanent part of working life following a 190 per cent spike in remote work job postings since the beginning of the pandemic, according to a report from specialised recruiter Robert Half.

The increase in remote job postings between March and November 2020, compared to the pre-COVID period (June 2019-February 2020), was driven largely by marketing and IT roles, making up two fifths of all postings at a total of 38,000 advertisements.

The research coincided with the launch of Robert Half’s Demand for Skilled Talent report, produced alongside labour market analytics firm, Burning Glass Technologies, to provide an in-depth analysis of current employment market trends, in-demand roles and the rise of the ‘anywhere workforce’.

Key hybrid trends

The centrepiece of the Demand for

Skilled Talent report is an analysis of evolving UK hybrid workforces.

With the uptick in hybrid and flexible working, many employees are keen to make the most of the opportunity.

Two in five workers surveyed (39 per cent) are planning to relocate to another country or city whilst working remotely, while almost half (49 per cent) want to swap to a compressed four-day week in response to increased workloads over the last year.

An additional 68 per cent expressed a desire to continue working from home for one to three days a week going forward.

More generally, employees are optimistic about their prospects in 2021.

Two thirds (67 per cent) have a positive outlook for the year, while 57 per cent expect to receive a pay rise.

Benefits for employers

Employees are not the only ones experiencing the advantages of hybrid working, as employers have also seen a number of benefits over the last year.

Improved business agility, access to a far larger talent pool, and the ability to offer teams a better work-life balance have been key takeaways for many businesses.

Matt Weston, managing director of Robert Half UK, said: “2021 will continue to be a year of recovery and rebuilding for many, but long-term shifts to remote and hybrid working are creating significant opportunities for businesses and individual workers alike.

“While the ‘anywhere workforce’ is clearly here to stay, adopting a flexible mindset will be critical for all who want to thrive in what remains a highly dynamic business environment.”

“We’re seeing the pivot towards online revenue generation, data-driven operational and planning processes, and the desire to fast-track talent transformation strategies to build more resilient, adaptable, and agile workforces influencing hiring priorities for many across the UK.”

Matt Sigelman, CEO of Burning Glass Technologies, added: “The pandemic has greatly accelerated a number of existing trends in the jobs market, including the move towards remote work and the rise of hybrid jobs.

“Remote work has the potential to disrupt the market by giving employers access to a much broader pool of talent and thus the ability to boost workforce diversity.”