[200+] Hybrid Work Statistics You Need To Know

Looking for the most in-depth round-up on hybrid work statistics?

In this post, we’ll explore over 200+ of the most important hybrid work statistics and trends.

But first, what is hybrid work?

What Is Hybrid Work?

The hybrid work model consists of a strategy where teams are free to work in varying environments, which can range from working from home [WFM], the office part-time, or even local coworking spaces.  The hybrid workspace was created as a way to unify both employer and employee demands.  Employees are free to perform their job outside of the office or commute to the office or local workspaces if they want a change of scenery.

It’s important to note that remote work is not the same as hybrid work.

Remote work refers to work that is fully independent of a geographical location.  Remote employees can perform their job entirely outside of the office environment with just a connection to the internet.

Hybrid work refers to the balance between having the option to work remotely or from wherever you are most productive. The term “Hybrid work” often gets misconstrued to mean you can work at home x days but must commute to the company HQ on other days. That is not hybrid. Hybrid work means having the ability to choose. Everyone works and learns differently and we should respect this by allowing employees to choose what environment makes them most productive.

Before we get into remote and hybrid work statistics in a lot more detail, we need to first understand why it’s important. 

According to Owl Labs (a leading video conferencing platform), 16% of employees around the world are working fully remotely, and 62% of remaining adults say they work from home some of the time. This means right now, we only have about 22% (a huge minority) of employees that work in the office full-time.

Key Hybrid Work Statistics

• 83% of workers prefer a hybrid or remote work model (Accenture)
• 61% of employees prefer to be fully remote (Multiple studies)  
• 90% of companies plan to offer hybrid work options in the future (McKinsey)
• 74% of US companies have implemented hybrid models (Multiple studies)
• 51% of the workforce will be remote or hybrid by 2023 (Upwork)
• 70% of companies expect to have hybrid roles long-term (Gartner)
• 72% open to employees working abroad in hybrid roles (Airbnb)
• 40% of remote job postings allow international remote work (LinkedIn) 
• Hybrid job postings on LinkedIn increased 5X since 2017 (LinkedIn)
• 74% believe globalization of teams will expand over the next 5 years (Twingate)
• 40% plan to hire abroad for hybrid roles (Mercer)
• 78% plan to invest in technologies to support hybrid work this year (Deloitte)
• 26% expect over 70% hybrid or remote workforce by 2025 (Gartner)
• 43% of Gen Z would take a pay cut for permanent hybrid or remote work (Forbes) 
• Post-pandemic estimates of 2-3 days of remote work per week on average (WFM Partner Survey)
• Virtual whiteboard sales grew 417% in 2022 amid the hybrid work boom (IDC)  
• 55% say hiring fully remote talent is key to skills competition (McKinsey)
• 74% say hybrid work expanded their talent pools (IBM)
• Hybrid-friendly companies have 11% higher application rates (Lever)  
• 70% will have a hybrid workforce over the next 5 years (Twingate)
• 78% will invest more in collaboration tech for hybrid teams (Deloitte)

Benefits & Cost Savings

• 63% say hybrid work makes them less likely to leave their job (Harris Poll)  
• 58% agree hybrid work has improved their mental health (Staples)
• 51% say hybrid schedules have allowed them more time with family (AlphaSights)  
• 71% value schedule flexibility above all else (Mercer)
• 62% improved work-life balance working hybrid (Gartner)
• IBM cut office space by 78 million square feet for hybrid work (Forbes)
• Companies estimate $10,000 in real estate savings per employee from hybrid models (JLL)
• 27% have reduced physical footprint due to hybrid work adoption (Knight Frank) 
• Companies save $11,000 per remote employee per year (Global Workplace Analytics)
• Real estate is the top area of cost savings from hybrid work (Gartner)
• Workplace footprint expected to shrink by an average of 23% after hybrid shift (Knight Frank)

Employee Preferences

• 80% prefer hybrid or remote work over full-time office work (Future Forum Pulse)  
• 34% would consider quitting if required to be fully office-based (Microsoft Work Trend Index)
• 44% of Gen Z has the strongest preference for hybrid work, vs. 31% of Millennials, 28% of Gen X, and 15% of Boomers (Gensler Research Institute)
• 34% feel left out of meetings or decisions when remote (Buffer)
• 39% believe they have fewer promotion opportunities compared to office coworkers (FlexJobs)
• 48% struggle to connect with coworkers in hybrid environments (Glassdoor)
• 38% would look for a new job if flexible work options weren’t offered (Mercer)
• 41% would consider quitting a job without remote work options (Owl Labs)
• 49% of millennials/Gen Z would quit a job that didn’t offer remote work (Various sources)
• 29% would take a pay cut to work remotely 2-3 days a week (Owl Labs)
• 67% of Gen Z says remote work options help attract them to jobs (IBM)

Company Policies & Manager Sentiments

• 68% of managers struggle with hybrid work, citing communication, collaboration, and culture as top challenges (Randstad Sourceright) 
• 55% of managers feel it’s easier to foster an inclusive environment when employees are in-office (Future Forum)
• 61% of managers admit to location bias, favoring employees they see in-person more (OWLLabs)
• 56% of managers want employees in the office more (Apple)
• 65% of managers are uncomfortable with full-time remote work (GoodHire)
• 70% expect to allow hybrid work where possible (Gartner)    
• 36% require in-office collaboration (Buffer’s State of Remote Work)   
• 92% offer schedule flexibility for hybrid workers (Mercer)
• 68% of managers want employees in the office 3+ days a week (Multiple studies)
• 13% plan to go fully remote (Regus)
• 74% have implemented hybrid work policies (SHRM)  
• 37% require employees to be in the office during core collaboration hours (Mercer)

Productivity & Performance

• 90% of managers say hybrid worker productivity is the same or higher than pre-pandemic (Eagle Hill Consulting)  
• Hybrid companies see 25-30% higher revenue per employee than fully remote or in-person (Deel)
• Hybrid workers join 19% fewer meetings per week than office-based workers (Zoom)
• 77% have improved productivity working remotely (Multiple studies)  
• 86% of managers say hybrid teams are more resilient than fully in-office teams (Microsoft)
• 25% higher revenue per employee for hybrid companies compared to fully remote or in-office (Deel)
• 30% are more productive working remotely than in the office (Becker Friedman Institute) 
• 72% of companies reported higher productivity with hybrid teams (Enterprise Technology Research)

Location Statistics

• 52% of hybrid workers split time between home and office; 36% work from a third location (Upwork)
• The average hybrid employee works from home 2.4 days a week (Gallup)
• 72% of hybrid workers use their bedroom or living room for work (TINYpulse)  
• 61% prefer to be fully remote (Multiple studies)
• 55% want to work remotely at least 3 days per week (Multiple studies) 
• 27% work from coworking spaces or third places like coffee shops (HubSpot)
• 20% work remotely 5+ days per week (Upwork)
• 16% are fully remote workers globally (Owl Labs) 
• 52% of hybrid workers have a dedicated home office space (Global Workplace Analytics)
• 34% work from their bed & 13% work from the couch (Buffer)
• Companies spend an average of $713 per employee on home office furniture & equipment (GWA)
• 34% struggle with ergonomics and discomfort working from home (Perceptyx)
• 36% report physical health issues working from suboptimal spaces (Owl Labs)

Commuting Statistics

• Hybrid schedules save 67 hours per year by avoiding commutes (Upwork)
• 109 million miles of daily commutes eliminated through remote work (UPS Business Survey)
• 20% say their commute is now worse than pre-pandemic (Microsoft) 
• Employees save 40 minutes per day and 7 days per year without commuting (Multiple studies)
• U.S. workers eliminated 109 million miles of daily commuting through remote work (UPS Business Survey)
• Employees save over 70 hours per year from hybrid schedule commuting (AlphaSights)
• 75% would take a new job to reduce commute time (MRINetwork)

Sustainability  

• Working remotely half-time can cut carbon footprint by 1,200 lb per year (HBR)
• U.S. hybrid workers 2-3 days a week could save 100M+ tons of emissions (Global Workplace Analytics) 
• 90% see hybrid work as key to sustainability strategy (JLL)
• Working hybrid 2-3 days per week could save over 100 million tons of emissions in the US (Global Workplace Analytics)   
• Hybrid work helps companies reach ESG and carbon reduction goals (Accenture)
• Employees saved 67 million metric tons of CO2 by working remotely (Longitude)
• Remote work helps organizations reduce their real estate footprint by up to 30% (JLL)

Health & Wellness 

• 52% exercised more over the past year compared to full-time office work (Staples)  
• Stress declined by 13% after adopting hybrid schedules (Microsoft WorkLab)
• Workers save $2,000 a year on expenses like gas and lunch working hybrid (Upwork)  
• 92% say hybrid work has improved their work-life balance (Owl Labs) 
• 58% say hybrid work has improved their mental health (Staples)
• 35% report improvement in overall health and well-being (Mercer)
• 60% improved work-life balance with the hybrid arrangement (Gartner)
• 62% say schedule flexibility has improved work-life balance (Owl Labs) 
• Hybrid workers get extra 24 minutes of sleep per night vs. office workers (Sleep Standards)     
• 54% of parents say hybrid work is beneficial for family time (Care.com)    
• 83% say hybrid work has improved their work-life balance (Owl Labs)
• 60% say remote work has reduced work-related stress (Staples)
• 58% say hybrid work has improved their mental health (Staples)  
• 51% say hybrid schedules allowed more time with family (AlphaSights)
• 75% are more willing to put in extra effort to keep hybrid work (Owl Labs)

Collaboration

• 34% feel left out of important meetings or decisions when working remotely (Buffer)   
• 48% struggle to connect with their coworkers in a hybrid environment (Glassdoor)
• 36% require employees to come to the office for collaborating (Buffer’s State of Remote Work) 
• 29% lack a sense of community in hybrid settings (Perceptyx)  
• 58% say communication has become more difficult (Guidehouse)
• 53% of meetings have some remote participants (Cisco) 
• 12% of in-person workers join calls using mobile devices like headphones (Jabra)
• Companies spend an average of $5k per room outfitting meeting rooms for hybrid meetings (Logitech)
•  62% are not satisfied with the current meeting room tech (LogMeIn)
•  58% say hybrid meetings are more challenging than fully in-person or remote meetings (Vyopta)

Career Progression & Salaries

• 39% believe they have fewer promotion opportunities compared to in-office coworkers (FlexJobs)
• 54% believe hybrid work has made career progression more ambiguous (West Monroe Partners)
• Employees in hybrid roles see 24% faster career growth than fully in-office employees (Future Forum)
• 46% are concerned about growth opportunities compared to onsite workers (Perceptyx)
• 37% feel overlooked for promotions or special projects compared to onsite workers (Owl Labs)
• 92% of employers do not have a formal system to determine pay for hybrid workers (Multiple studies) 
• 97% of employers do not plan to reduce salaries for hybrid workers (Multiple studies)
• 21% would adjust salaries based on location, contribution changes, or cultural impact (Multiple studies)
• 11% decreased pay to work remotely full-time in 2022 (Buffer)
• 28% are open to reducing pay to work remotely more (Owl Labs)

Company Culture

• 52% of executives say maintaining culture is difficult in a hybrid environment (Microsoft)  
• 32% of corporate decision-makers are concerned that remote work will affect company culture (Multiple studies)
• 77% of employees say hybrid work makes them more loyal to their employer (AlphaSights)
• 29% feel hybrid work has damaged their company culture (Perceptyx)
• 72% feel less connected to coworkers in hybrid or remote roles (Gitlab)

Hybrid Work Security

• 54% of IT professionals worry about security risks from remote employees (Multiple studies)  
• Companies have increased IT security budgets by 15% since 2020 to secure hybrid work (Cisco) 
• 27% of organizations saw an increase in cyber attacks coinciding with hybrid work rollout (Thales)
• 60% saw an increase in security events after implementing hybrid work (Fortinet)  
• Remote workers cause 2x as many security incidents as onsite workers (Tessian)
• 80% of IT leaders say hybrid work has expanded their security attack surface (ForgeRock)
• Breaches cost companies $4.35 million per incident on average in 2022, up from $3.86 million in 2020 (IBM)
• 60% of organizations saw an increase in security events due to hybrid work (Fortinet)
• 93% of IT leaders report security challenges due to hybrid work (Cisco) 
• 51% say remote users cause significantly more security incidents (Netskope)

Workplace Automation & Tools

• 72% of companies have accelerated automation to support hybrid teams (IBM) 
•  30% of desk jobs will be automated by 2030 as companies adapt offices for hybrid staff (Gartner)
• Top use cases include automated assessments (37%), chatbots (34%), robotic process automation (32%) (Deloitte)  
• 45% using workforce management tools to schedule hybrid teams (Sapling)
• 52% automating administrative processes to ease remote work management (KPMG)
• 82% have increased spending on collaboration tools for hybrid work (Gartner)
• Top tools adopted by hybrid companies include Slack (56%), MS Teams (50%), Zoom (43%) (Statista)
• The use of digital whiteboards has grown over 400% since 2020 (IDC)  
• 75% use project management software to coordinate hybrid teams (Wrike)
• Team chat and video calls are named as the most essential tools (Jostle)
• Investments in collaboration tech to increase by 6.4% for hybrid work (Gartner)
• 34% have adopted digital whiteboards to engage remote participants (TechRepublic)
• 75% provide home office stipends for furniture and equipment (Forrester) 
• IT spending has increased 6.7% with more remote employees (Regus)  
• 82% have increased spending on collaboration tools for hybrid work (Gartner)
• 75% provide technology stipends for remote workers (Mercer)
• 34% have implemented new HR tech to support hybrid teams (Gartner)

Laws & Regulations Around Hybrid Work

• Portugal, Germany, and Canada have enacted laws supporting remote work  
• 19 US states have proposed legislation to support flexible and remote work
• Australia requires employers to consider employee requests for flexible work arrangements
• Countries with flexible work laws see 7% higher labor force participation (ILO)
• 74% of countries lack legislation on flexible work policies (UNDP)

Is the Future Going To Be Remote Only or Hybrid?

• 18% of the global workforce works remotely full-time; 2.9% of US workers are hybrid (Multiple studies)  
• 90% of companies plan to offer hybrid work options in the future (McKinsey)
• 74% of US companies have implemented hybrid models (Multiple studies) 
• Remote job posts have increased by over 500% since COVID (LinkedIn)
• Hybrid job listings on LinkedIn increased 5X since 2017 (LinkedIn)
• 34% of the workforce works hybrid 2-3 days per week on average (Upwork)
• 44% work hybrid or remote 4+ days per week (Upwork)

Headlines have trumpeted “The end of the office as we know it”, but we’re not quite there nor is that realistic.  Companies still need office space and teams need to reconnect to enhance company culture.  It’s going to be the “traditional office” of one headquarters, 9 am-5 pm that will disappear as we know it.

Regus compiled a comprehensive report on their statistics related to these big changes, but there are a few key takeaways:

• Giant corporate offices are probably going to be the first to go.  Not only are they the biggest real estate costs for companies, but many remote workers are moving out of cities – so smaller, satellite offices will start to make more sense.

• Corporate and commercial space rental costs are going down sharply.  This is the single greatest shift in supply and demand the industry has ever seen, and there’s no end in sight!

1. The number of company decision-makers who want to make changes to their corporate real estate in the near future is 87%.   Most are looking to scale back the size of their offices, as they no longer need as much space – thanks to remote and hybrid work. 
2. Sixty-six percent say that they plan to redesign their office spaces to better accommodate remote and hybrid work models. 
3. The number of managers and decision-makers who plan to spend more on digital tools and platforms that allow better collaboration between teams and employees is 60%. 
4. The number of companies in the US that are planning or have implemented a hybrid work model is 74%. 
5. Average IT spending has gone up 6.7% since more employees have been working remotely. 

There are other reports too.  Some indicate ominous consequences for building owners and landlords who will not adapt to the future of work.  In fact, in an article about the situation in New York in April, the New York Times points to 25% vacancy in the city’s most in-demand commercial and corporate districts.

There are similar statistics around the world.  In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find a major city anywhere in the world where their commercial property vacancy rate is less than double digits.

It’s not all doom and gloom though – at least not for everyone.

Many companies that could only afford to rent before have now been able to negotiate the purchase of commercial space that they could never afford before.

Several cities are also finding that companies who own commercial buildings – especially in sought-after central business districts – are converting them into living or Coliving spaces. Combined with the remote worker exodus from cities, this is changing the way we use cities and could be a positive change for local economies.  People might not be traveling downtown to work, but they’re making them their home, and that will always stimulate local business.

The last time we saw such a monumental change in how we live and work was the industrial revolution.  So, while we can’t predict just yet what the outcome of all this change will be, there’s no denying that we’ll find a way to make it work.  Even in the commercial real estate market.

We’ve seen all kinds of headlines splashed over the media about how companies have taken varying stances on the hybrid model. Technology companies like Twitter have allowed their employees to work from home forever, while other companies with real-estate portfolios have pushed for a return to the office approach.

About 44% of all companies in the world, don’t allow for remote or hybrid work options.  They might have to rethink their stance though. Early news reports out of Europe indicate that there are several countries there that plan to make remote work a legal right, even after Covid. 

Challenges & Negatives

• 61% of managers say hybrid work has made it harder to onboard new employees (GitLab)
• 70% or fewer remote employees feel they get sufficient training from their companies (Multiple studies)  
• Remote employees feel less connected to management, and only 16% feel their manager includes them in goal-setting exercises (Multiple studies)
• 69% of managers say onboarding takes longer for hybrid workers (HackerRank)
• 17% of new hires feel properly onboarded in a hybrid environment (ServiceNow) 
• 54% believe it’s made career progression more ambiguous (West Monroe Partners)
• 52% say maintaining culture is difficult (Microsoft) 
• 55% of managers feel it’s easier to foster inclusion when employees are in office (Future Forum)
• 61% of managers admit to location bias, favoring in-person employees more (OWLLabs)  
• 32% concerned about remote work’s impact on company culture (Multiple studies)
• 58% cite communication as a top challenge with hybrid work (Perceptyx)
• 36% believe it has led to more workplace conflicts (Glassdoor)
• 58% struggle with collaborating across hybrid teams (Perceptyx)
• 48% say communication is a challenge in hybrid environments (Guidehouse) 
• 36% believe hybrid work has led to more workplace conflicts (Glassdoor)
• 42% find it hard to read body language and social cues in hybrid settings (Owl Labs)
• Lack of inclusion is a top concern of hybrid employees (Microsoft)

The Corporate Resistance To Change

As shown in this article, most remote work and hybrid workplace statistics are overwhelmingly positive.

Employees are happier, they get more done, and are less likely to take sick days.  They also save money and time commuting to and from work (and are willing to be more flexible to get work done because of it.)

Employers save money on office space, don’t see productivity drops, and can attract and retain a better workforce.

• The number of managers and executives who would like to see employees in the office at least three days a week is 68%.
• The number of company decision-makers who plan to make their offices fully remote is 13%.
• The corporate decision-makers and leaders who are concerned that remote work will affect company culture is at 32%.
• Ninety-two percent of all employers surveyed during hybrid work statistics studies said that they do not have a formal system to determine the remuneration package for hybrid workers. 
• Ninety-seven percent of employers do not feel that they need to reduce salaries for hybrid workers, but 21% would make adjustments if their employees moved to a different location, contributed more or less, or if it affected their corporate culture. 
• The move to bring office workers back to in-person work is much higher in the US at 22%.  In other countries, including Japan and Germany, the figure is only 5%.

So why are some companies still opposed to hybrid work?

1. Older companies are sticklers for tradition – they’ve always done things a certain way, and are resistant to change.
2. The company relies heavily on social relationships and office politics – so middle managers might not like the idea that they get less “face time” to build their brand.
3.   There’s a lack of trust, and managers want to be able to “check in” on employees throughout the day.
4. The company’s technology infrastructure isn’t up to the change – and they lack the will or interest in upgrading to more modern systems.
5. Companies are worried that employees are either less engaged or might be working on a side-hustle on company time.

As you can see from this list, most of the reasons companies who oppose working from home or hybrid work models are based on insecurity and resistance to change.

Yes, employees who work from home might take some time off to go to the dentist or run to the store.  Some might start their own business or leave the company – but they probably would have whether they worked from the office or from home.  Others might not deliver the results the company requires.

But, the vast majority of people who do work from home or local workspaces are not only more productive and get their tasks done on time and correctly, but they also want to keep the arrangement going.  So, provided they have clear goals and instructions, they are far more likely to work harder and deliver better results, so they can keep working where they are most productive.

If they have to take some time off to do something, they’ll make double sure to make it up so they can keep delivering to the required standard.

Work from home and the work-life balance it brings is the single greatest motivator of employees we have seen in centuries.  There is nothing else that comes close in terms of a desirable perk. People are willing to go above and beyond to keep this arrangement going.

So, instead of resisting this change, smart companies should be (and are) using it as leverage when hiring and discussing promotions and role changes.  Work-from-home and hybrid work situations are, without a doubt, a win for everyone involved.

What Is Best For My Company?

Like most things in life, there is no straight answer here. Everyone has different perspectives, motives, and agendas.

Remote work platforms blindly post that “everyone wants to be remote” without considering that not everyone has a great at-home work environment. Whether it’s kids, your roommates, the dog, etc. Some people (50% actually) enjoy the separation between work and life. The difference here is that they want the choice to engage in office comradery or a change of scenery.

Traditional companies believe that your best work “can only be done in the office” without considering that maybe employees will work harder for the perk of being able to cut the commute, spend more time with family, and actually have more time to work.

So what is the answer? The trick is balance.

1. Your team creates your company’s culture (not your workspace). Ask them for their opinions. Your team wants to feel heard.
2. Your workspace strategy should be optimized around performance (not time spent in an office).
3. Empower people to do their best work no matter where they are.

By identifying with these core principles, you will be able to make the decision that works best for everyone.