It has become increasingly challenging for certain workers to secure remote positions, but many Americans still enjoy flexible working arrangements. Some companies are summoning employees back to the office and hiring for in-person roles, yet a significant number of Americans continue to work remotely at least part of the week. While some workers may maintain their flexible work setups within their current roles, they might face difficulties in finding new remote positions. Companies such as Amazon, AT&T, and JPMorgan have mandated a return to the office for employees five days a week, marking a shift away from remote and hybrid job offerings on various platforms in recent years.
The percentage of remote and hybrid job postings on platforms like Indeed has decreased to 7.8% in November from over 10% in 2022, and on LinkedIn, it has fallen to around 21% as of December, down from 26% two years ago. However, remote and hybrid work is still prevalent, with about 23% of US workers working from home at least part of the time in December, an increase from about 19% two years prior, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Approximately 10% of workers were fully remote.
Experts like Stanford University economist Nicholas Bloom have observed that while some companies are moving away from remote work, others are maintaining or expanding it. The divide between remote job postings and actual work-from-home rates suggests that companies may be prioritizing in-person hires while allowing existing employees to continue working flexibly. This approach could help increase in-office attendance without upsetting employees accustomed to remote or hybrid setups.
Despite the shift towards in-person hiring, the transition to lower work-from-home rates may take time due to minimal job changes and additions during the past two years. This scenario could make it challenging for workers to secure new remote or hybrid roles at other companies, as businesses are focusing on accommodating existing employees with flexible work arrangements.
It could be somewhat misleading to attribute the slowdown in hiring for white-collar roles to a decrease in remote or hybrid job postings, as pointed out by Simon. White-collar positions, known for their flexibility in working arrangements, may not necessarily reflect the full scope of remote job opportunities available in the current market.
Bloom noted that some companies may be hesitant to explicitly offer flexible working arrangements in their job postings, opting instead to introduce such arrangements later on. This cautious approach stems from a desire to avoid a situation where initial promises of extensive work-from-home options are later retracted, a scenario experienced by many in 2021.
Certain roles, such as university professors, naturally lend themselves to remote work on days when classes are not in session. Despite this common practice, job postings for such positions may not explicitly indicate the remote or hybrid nature of the role.
Pollak highlighted that remote or hybrid roles are often inadequately represented in job postings due to their lower turnover rates compared to traditional in-person positions. While a hotel may frequently rotate its janitorial staff, remote customer support roles typically experience more stability and less frequent turnover, leading to a disparity in the visibility of such opportunities in job listings.
Have you encountered a shift in your employer’s remote work policies recently? Share your experiences and insights with this reporter at jzinkula@businessinsider.com.
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