‘Remote jobs fading out as employers push for return to office’

Remote and hybrid jobs are becoming increasingly uncommon as employers push their staff to return to the office.  

Research conducted by CMD Recruitment found that the percentage of employees working remotely fell to 14% in June 2024, compared with 38% in June 2020, according to the Office of National Statistics. 

It also reveals that 90% of employers intend to enforce return-to-office mandates in 2024 – and that figure includes the 51% that have already done so. 

Dan Barfoot, operations manager at CMD Recruitment, claims that this change in trend is because employers are attempting to create a work environment to address inefficiencies and to enhance cognitive working and employee engagement within the brand and team environment. 

He said: “There’s a definite change in the landscape regarding remote work. Companies are pushing for a return to the office, reducing previously available remote or hybrid options. I think this is a shock to many who have worked remotely for the past few years.”  

He claims that this shift is driven by the fact that companies are finding it difficult to work collaboratively as a team.  

Barfoot added: “It appears that some companies have over-recruited and are discovering that the easiest way to accurately monitor staff performance is if they are on-site in a work environment.  

“With so many people turning to remote working during the Coronavirus pandemic, it also seems that employees have changed their lifestyles to suit working from home. With this in mind, employers offering remote working are often having to adapt the available role to the new candidate’s demands and routines.”  

The manufacturing sector, a significant part of the South West’s economy, presents a mixed picture. While some companies continue to enjoy strong order books, others are facing a slowdown, leading to potential restructuring and redundancies.

In-demand fields 

Current trends in recruitment reveal a rise in HR, marketing, and internal talent candidates facing redundancies as businesses strive to balance accounts and manage costs. On the other hand, demand remains high in tech, sales, and engineering sectors, leading to a significant increase in salaries.  

“These in-demand fields are experiencing a significant rise in salaries, exceeding 20% in some cases, due to a talent shortage. Unfortunately, when companies tighten their belts, HR, marketing, and internal talent roles are often the first to be cut,” Barfoot added. 

As of January 2024, LinkedIn also reported twice the number of applications to remote roles than were available. The platform also revealed that only 9% of job postings last month were fully remote, with remote postings down 23% from this time last year.