Flexible Jobs Soar: Why Job Seekers Are Choosing Flexibility Now!
Exciting news from the frontlines of the job market! The latest Work Index has just dropped, revealing a groundbreaking shift in how we work. For the first time since its launch in January 2020, we’ve hit a record high in flexible job openings and the number of job seekers hunting for these coveted positions. The last quarter has been nothing short of phenomenal.
Companies are eagerly adapting to the new era of flexible working rights introduced by the Employment Rights Bill, which aims to empower every worker with the ability to request and access flexible work arrangements. This is a game-changer! However, some critics voice concerns about whether businesses are actually ready to implement these changes as the Bill continues its journey through parliament.
But here’s the kicker: there’s a notable gap between what job seekers desire in terms of flexibility and what companies are currently offering. The demand for fully remote positions is skyrocketing, while hybrid roles are seeing the opposite trend, where supply exceeds demand.
Flexible Jobs: A Record-Breaking Surge
The statistics are staggering! In just three months, from July to September 2024, we witnessed a phenomenal 6,962 flexible job postings. This includes everything from fully remote positions to those offering just a single work-from-home day a week, and flexible hours that cater to diverse needs. That’s a whopping 60% increase in flexible job offerings compared to the previous quarter!
The number of job seekers clamoring for flexible roles has also reached an all-time high, with 22,014 individuals signing up in the last quarter alone—a staggering 132% increase from the previous quarter. Clearly, flexibility is not just a perk; it’s what today’s workforce prioritizes!
While some debates swirl around the implications of the Employment Rights Bill, the record demand and supply for flexible jobs suggest a strong willingness from both job seekers and employers to embrace this new working paradigm.
Employers Take a Cautious Stance
However, there seems to be a disconnect. While 59% of job seekers expressed a preference for fully remote work, a mere 2% of job listings offered this option. Surprisingly, the number of fully remote positions available has halved, even as demand has surged by 18%. Employers seem to be leaning towards hybrid work arrangements rather than fully remote options.
Hybrid Work: The Dominant Choice
In fact, 77% of job postings now feature hybrid work setups, providing everything from one to four work-from-home days per week. Yet, only about 11% of job seekers indicated a preference for hybrid roles, suggesting that many workers still crave more flexibility than employers are ready to provide. The increase in hybrid job offerings could complicate the landscape, leading to potential mismatches between what workers want and what’s being offered.
The findings point to a vital need for employers to bridge this growing divide between the flexibility they can offer and the flexibility candidates are seeking.
Molly Johnson-Jones, co-founder and CEO of Flexa, shares her insights: “Job seekers are increasingly seeking diverse working environments, and employers are stepping up. While the Employment Rights Bill aims to secure the right to request flexible work, it won’t guarantee that every request will be met. The reality is, workers want more flexibility than many businesses are currently prepared to give.”
“If given the choice, a significant number of workers would opt for full-time remote work, while companies prefer at least some time in the office. This disconnect is bound to come to light as flexible work requests rise, pushing both sides to collaborate for a solution. The good news is that flexibility comes in various forms, allowing both employers and employees to find common ground between options ranging from ‘one work-from-home day per week’ to ‘fully remote’ positions.”
*Research from Flexa
