New data from LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, shows that remote roles continue to decline across major economies in Europe, despite their popularity among job seekers. According to the analysis of roles posted in November, there have been seven consecutive months of decline in remote roles in the UK and the Netherlands.
LinkedIn’s data highlights a ‘Great Mismatch’ between the flexibility employees want from work, and what many employers are now offering. While remote work appears to have peaked in many countries, the share of applications to those roles is still going up and was higher in November compared to the previous month, demonstrating continued interest in remote work.
Josh Graff, managing director, EMEA & LATAM, at LinkedIn, said: “Our analysis of real-time labour market trends highlights a ‘Great Mismatch’ between what employees want from work and what many employers are now offering when it comes to flexibility and remote roles. Despite their popularity amongst job seekers, remote roles are continuing to decline across Europe as companies respond to economic uncertainty and some employers want employees back in the office. One of my hopes for 2023 is that companies will recognise that flexible work is pivotal to a high functioning, highly productive business. For employers that are hesitant, my concern is that the aha moment will be when they see attrition from their highest performing, highest potential employees – the ones they need most in moments of uncertainty.”
Remote jobs vs. applications
November 2022
Country Remote jobs (as a share of all jobs) Percentage fall from October Percentage fall from November 2021 Applications (as a share of all applications)
Ireland 12 per cent -11 per cent -33 per cent 22 per cent
United Kingdom 11 per cent -4 per cent -25 per cent 21 per cent
Germany 9 per cent -6 per cent -31 per cent 24 per cent
Sweden 7 per cent -4 per cent -20 per cent 14 per cent
France 6 per cent -2 per cent -31 per cent 10 per cent
Netherlands 5 per cent -7 per cent -42 per cent 15 per cent
C-level research from LinkedIn finds that many of the flexibilities and freedoms employees benefited from over the past couple of years are at risk as economic uncertainty takes hold. In addition to flexible working (68 per cent), business leaders across the globe fear the current climate will also force companies to wind back progress made around skills development (74 per cent) and employee wellbeing (75 per cent). This is at odds with what employees want – LinkedIn’s Global Talent Trends report finds that flexible work, skills development opportunities and work-life balance are what employees value most today.
