UK white-collar recruits expected in office more as hybrid working balance shifts

"Most new recruits to white-collar jobs are required to spend at least two or three days a week in the office, while roles requiring just one office day are dying out, according to an analysis of job postings. Hybrid work where staff split their time between the office and another location, such as their home has cemented itself as the new normal for millions of workers since the Covid-19 pandemic."

"The vast majority (85%) of UK hybrid roles posted on Indeed now require at least two days a week in the office, up from 77% in 2024 and 66% in 2023. More than half (56%) of job postings expect workers to spend two days in the office, while one-quarter (25%) require three office days; just 4% specify attendance on four days."

"However, only 15% of postings permit just a single office day each week, down from 22% in 2024 and more than a third of postings in 2023 (34%) and 2022 (35%). Analysis of jobs across different sectors showed employees in accounting were expected to work from the office most often, for an average of 2.4 days a week, followed by those in human resources (HR) and IT infrastructure roles (2.3 days a week)."

Job listings show hybrid roles have become less flexible, with 85% of UK hybrid positions now requiring at least two office days per week, up from 66% in 2023. Fifty-six percent request two days, 25% require three, and only 4% demand four days. Single-office-day postings have fallen to 15% from over a third in 2022–23. Accounting, HR and IT infrastructure roles have higher on-site averages (around 2.3–2.4 days). London averages 2.2 days, the north-east 2.7. Software developers' office days rose to 2.3, up 0.6 days since 2023. Possible causes include employer leverage and calls for greater in-person collaboration.

Read at www.theguardian.com