As remote working proves to be of more benefit than a hindrance for companies, business decision makers are now more flexible when considering candidates for employment. New research has revealed that nearly three quarters (73 per cent) are open to hiring people from anywhere in the UK, rather than just those local to their business. The study, conducted by The University of Law Business School, also found that more than a quarter (29 per cent) of those businesses are open to hiring new staff from outside of the UK, as companies look further afield for talent.
The findings are hardly surprising, considering that more than a third (36 per cent) of UK firms have seen an increase in productivity in their staff since working from home was introduced, while almost a quarter (24 per cent) have also enjoyed a boost to their profitability. Interestingly, female decision makers are the most likely to employ a candidate from outside the business’ local area, with more than half (51 per cent) stating they would hire from anywhere in the UK, compared to just 38 per cent of men.
With the demand for remote workers rising, this has also created increased competition in the job market. According to the decision makers polled, the top five most desirable qualities for a candidate in a remote working position are:
- Self-motivation (41 per cent)
- Good communication (34 per cent)
- Adaptability (24 per cent)
- Organisation (23 per cent)
- Teamwork (20 per cent)
The data shows that businesses find self-motivation to be the most appealing characteristic when hiring a remote member of staff, with 41 per cent sharing this view. Being able to communicate effectively while working remotely away from your colleagues is also a key asset, with a third (34 per cent) of bosses seeking this as a key attribute. By contrast, despite the challenges many UK workers have faced through the pandemic in the last 12 months, resilience is the least sought-after quality, with only 4 per cent of employers looking for this in a candidate.
“It’s fascinating to see how well businesses have adapted to working remotely in the last year or so,” said Andres Perez, director at ULaw Business School. “At the beginning of the pandemic, companies and employers were thrown into a scenario where they had to adopt a working dynamic that would have made a lot of employers nervous to begin with, but many have found it beneficial.
“With remote working set to grow further in popularity, the job market is now more flexible and international than ever, however, also more competitive. We are confident our findings will help inspire the next generation of the UK workforce moving forward to be open to opportunities beyond their geographical area.”
