Skip to content
ADVERTISEMENT
News

Up to 44% of UK workers now in remote or hybrid roles, report finds

According to MyPerfectCV, 14% of employees said they work fully remotely, while a further 26% to 28% followed hybrid schedules.

4 min read
Share
Up to 44% of UK workers now in remote or hybrid roles, report finds
ADVERTISEMENT

Remote and hybrid working have become a permanent feature of the UK labour market, with between 40% and 44% of working adults now operating outside traditional office settings, according to the UK Remote Work Report 2026 from MyPerfectCV.

The findings highlighted a long-term shift in working patterns, with flexible arrangements moving beyond a temporary pandemic response to become standard practice across many industries.

Around 14% of employees said they work fully remotely, while a further 26% to 28% followed hybrid schedules.

Globally, the UK was among the leaders in flexible working adoption, with employees averaging 1.8 remote workdays per week – the highest in Europe and second worldwide.

However, access to remote work remained uneven across the workforce.

ADVERTISEMENT

Higher earners, degree holders and those in knowledge-based sectors such as IT and professional services were significantly more likely to work remotely, while employees in retail, hospitality and manual roles had far less access.

The report found that workers earning more than £50,000 were considerably more likely to be in remote or hybrid roles, with uptake increasing steadily alongside income level.

Education also played a key role, with graduates more likely to secure roles offering flexible working arrangements.

ADVERTISEMENT

Flexible working has delivered benefits for many employees, particularly in terms of wellbeing.

Some 78% of respondents reported improved work-life balance, while 65% said they feel happier and more satisfied at work.

ADVERTISEMENT

Despite this, challenges remain.

ADVERTISEMENT

Up to 80% of workers reported negative impacts on mental health, while many said they struggle to separate work from personal life.

Between 18% and 39% also reported physical issues linked to home working setups.

The shift towards hybrid working has reduced the frequency of daily commutes, with employees making fewer but more intentional trips to the office.

This has contributed to changing transport patterns and increased interest in suburban and semi-rural living within commuting distance of major cities.

ADVERTISEMENT

Adoption of remote work is highest in economically strong regions.

In London, 51% of workers are in remote or hybrid roles, compared to 47% in the South East.

These regions benefit from a higher concentration of knowledge-based jobs.

At the same time, remote working is redistributing economic activity.

An estimated £3bn per year has shifted from city centres to suburban and residential areas, while the South East has seen a £4bn increase in economic output.

ADVERTISEMENT

Employers and employees remain divided on the impact of remote working on productivity.

Between 62% and 67% of employees believe they are more productive when working remotely, compared to 39% of employers.

Businesses have also raised concerns around collaboration, communication and company culture.

Remote working has been linked to a 7.4% increase in meetings, alongside a rise in what some describe as lower-quality interactions.

The report also highlighted the emergence of “proximity bias” in hybrid workplaces.

Some 94% of business leaders said they are more likely to notice contributions from employees who are physically present in the office.

Hybrid workers are 7.7% less likely to be promoted and 7.1% less likely to receive pay rises as a result.

Financially, remote working can offer savings, particularly on commuting.

The average daily commute costs £19.10, compared to £9.41 for a day working from home, equating to potential annual savings of up to £2,400.

However, these savings are partially offset by increased household costs.

Some 86% of remote workers reported higher utility bills, with average additional costs of £47.07 per week.

Looking ahead, hybrid working is expected to remain the dominant model.

Around 74% of UK CEOs said a full return to the office is no longer a priority, while between 43% and 48% of professionals said they would consider leaving their job if required to return full-time.

A structured hybrid approach, typically involving two to three days in the office each week, is emerging as the preferred model for balancing flexibility with collaboration and organisational cohesion.

Related