23+ hybrid work statistics for 2024

The modern workplace demands adaptability and a healthy balance between routine and flexibility. Transitioning from traditional office setups to flexible models combining remote and in-person collaboration is no longer just a trend — it’s a strategic imperative.

Flexible work is the modern take on mixing the traditional in-office model with working from home. The impact of hybrid work on employers and employees shows just how valuable flexibility can be in terms of productivity, efficiency, and profitability. The following hybrid work statistics will give you an idea of the current state of things and how flexible work is changing the world in 2024.

Today’s highly dynamic professional landscape has seen hybrid work reshape business operations. Understanding the trajectory of this shift isn’t just insightful — it’s essential for strategic planning and long-term success. These statistics provide valuable insights into the current state of work and its direction.

1. As of February 2024, Professionals working on a hybrid basis have the highest engagement rates at 35%, followed by fully remote employees at 33% and in-office employees at 27%. (Gallup)

2. Ninety-five percent of business leaders say their organization has become more flexible over the past two years, and 82% have plans to make it more flexible over the next two years. (Zoom)

3. Employers stand to save around 50% on office space and traditional real estate alone by adopting a hybrid work model. (IWG)

4. Eighty-three percent of male employees say the reason they go into the office full-time is because it’s required by the company. (The Flex Report)

5. In 2023, the number of hybrid workers in America reached 29%. (WFH Research)

6. The average U.S.-based employer can save $11,000 every year for each remote worker on a two- to three-day hybrid schedule. (GWA)

7. Twenty-five percent of employees would prefer a “flextime hybrid” model if they were to switch employers. (Zoom)

Some industries are better equipped to support a flexible work model than others. These statistics help paint a picture of how different industries and departments have reacted to this new setting.

8. The HR sector is more likely than others to prefer the hybrid work model, followed by legal and IT. (Boundless HQ)

9. Thirty-two percent of professionals in the legal industry work a hybrid schedule, with 11% working fully remote. (U.S. Legal Support)

10. The food services, transportation, and manufacturing industries have the lowest remote and hybrid rates due, in part, to the need for physical interaction. (American Economic Association)

The relationship between flexible work models and productivity is a hot topic. And it’s a fair concern, as a lot of business oversight traditionally leverages face-to-face supervision and guidance. 

However, using effective communication tools and collaboration software for flexible work models may not only support your team’s productivity but actively improve it.

11. Ninety percent of hybrid employees say they are just as or more productive in their current working style as they were in the office. (Owl Labs)

12. Almost 80% of managers say their team is more productive when working hybrid or remote. (Owl Labs)

13. In 2023, 48% of hybrid and remote employees reported feeling more energized than they did a year prior. (Buffer)

Recent insights into the global workforce reveal a similar connection between hybrid work, employee productivity, and a revitalized job market.

14. In Australia and Canada, the number of open job listings for flexible work models rose from 1% or less in 2019 to over 10% in 2023. (NBER)

15. As of 2022, 66% of businesses in Asia Pacific have made the transition to flexible work models as the "New Normal." (CBRE)

16. Thirty-seven percent of European professionals have a flexible work model, while 41% are still expected to work at the office. (ADP Research Institute)

17. In 2023, 30% of professionals in Australia believe the flexible model of a four-day workweek will soon become standard practice. (ADP Research Institute)

The way your employees react to the work model shapes its success. Employees need to maintain a balance between flexibility and productivity for a hybrid setting to function as intended. Here’s where professionals stand on the topic:

18. Around 29% of hybrid and remote workers say they would expect a pay increase if they could no longer work remotely. (Owl Labs)

19. Seventy-five percent of millennials and 77% of Gen Zs working from home or on a hybrid basis would look for a new job altogether if asked to go to the office full-time. (Deloitte)

20. Hybrid workers experience burnout symptoms 15% less frequently than their in-office counterparts. (IE Center for Health and Well-Being)

21. Implementing a hybrid arrangement can reduce the quitting rate of involved professionals by 35%. (Brookings)

While the benefits of remote work for employees are well documented, how do employers and business owners view this increasingly popular work arrangement? Employer concerns about flexible work have only become less common as it’s been more widely adopted. 

22. Ninety percent of CEOs say that adopting a hybrid work model is a direct reason for reduced costs. (IWG)

23. Sixty-six percent of executives believe their in-office policies did not have a positive effect on the team’s productivity. (The Flex Report)

24. Twenty percent of employers experiencing difficulty hiring skilled talent think their in-office requirements are the main hurdle. (Robert Half)

Recent research into the future of work, commissioned by Zoom and conducted in partnership with Reworked INSIGHTS, surveyed more than 600 IT and C-suite leaders and nearly 1,900 knowledge workers across the globe about the nature of the modern workplace. We found that in today’s workforce, hybrid is king: 64% of employees say their company currently operates on a hybrid model.

And it isn’t king just because the workforce prefers it. Our research found that most business leaders (75%) say their company will likely change the nature of its workplace in the next two years. Modern organizations feel that the hybrid model strikes a unique balance between flexibility and efficiency. In fact, 84% of business leaders pushing for flexible models are driven by higher productivity, while 62% want to improve talent recruitment.

When implementing a hybrid work model, leadership needs to consider what that model requires in order to function well.

One of the most notable elements is the technology that remote and hybrid models need to remain sustainable. Seventy-five percent of employees believe that the technology, software, and tools that their company uses need to be improved, with 72% saying that to support remote work, their company needs to invest in new technologies.

Making a flexible work model function well takes a lot of live experimentation. The trick isn’t in prepping the workplace for a rigid hybrid model — there’s no one-size-fits-all approach — it’s in designing the new model to highlight collaboration and communication as the two most important assets.

When designing your work model, your priority should be to create a framework that enhances your team’s connectivity and eliminates any distance that physical absence might create. For the hybrid model to work successfully, it’s important to leverage the right collaboration software to reimagine the workplace for your company.

Learn more about how Zoom Workplace can help you bridge the gap between solid communication and a flexible work model.