- Originally published: November 15, 2023
- Last updated: December 20, 2024
Trying to keep up with hybrid work statistics?
Rightly so. Understanding different hybrid work models, hybrid work productivity, and employee preferences can help you decide if it’s a good fit for your business and see how you compare to others.
But there’s a problem. There are tons of resources online offering hybrid workplace statistics, research, and hybrid work trends. In fact, if you search “hybrid work statistics” on Google alone, you’ll get about 222 million results in just 33 seconds. However, be careful—many of these hybrid work stats are outdated, some even from before the pandemic. Since the workplace has changed so much recently, these old numbers aren’t very relevant anymore.
With that in mind, here are the latest stats on hybrid workplaces and what they could mean for your business.
Guide to hybrid statistics
Key hybrid workplace statistics
- Hybrid work models are gaining traction globally. About 64% of leaders report that their companies use a hybrid model. Larger organizations, in particular, are more likely to adopt remote work models. This is often because they need a wide range of specialized skills and must recruit from a broader geographic area.
- 75% of leaders believe their companies will change their work models in the next two years. Additionally, 95% have made their workspaces more flexible, and 82% plan to continue this trend.
- Regarding work preferences, North America prefers in-office setups, Western Europe prefers hybrid models, and the Asia-Pacific region leans towards remote work.
- Employees report being more productive in hybrid or remote settings, with 84% indicating increased productivity outside the traditional office.
- Two-thirds of employers recognize the positive impacts of hybrid working on employee productivity (66%) and well-being (65%), while it also helps to save costs (65%).
- As hybrid working becomes more common, 40% of office interactions now include remote participants.
- Good office technology is crucial, with its importance increasing from 83% in 2023 to 87%.
- Less than half of employers (47%) and employees (42%) feel their office spaces are well-equipped for hybrid work. About three-quarters of employers are considering redesigning their office spaces soon.
Understanding the hybrid work model & statistics
The hybrid work model is a flexible working method that blends remote and office work. Essentially, it lets employees choose where they feel they work best—some prefer home, others prefer the office, and many prefer a combination of both. This approach is attractive for its flexibility, but it also brings some challenges, such as fewer chances for spontaneous conversations that happen naturally in an office setting.
The research highlights how important leadership is in making hybrid work effective. Leaders need to use transformative approaches, communicate well, and provide plenty of support to enhance team cooperation, engagement, and overall well-being. They must also adapt their leadership styles to manage remote teams successfully, promoting a culture of trust, inclusiveness, and responsibility.
So, this is where you, as a business leader, have to step in and carefully implement the best hybrid work schedule for your team.
Different hybrid work approaches to choose from
Despite what you might hear, there’s no major push to bring everyone back to the office or switch to fully remote work. Right now, workplaces are figuring out what works best for them, and hybrid models are pretty popular. About 64% of leaders say their companies use a hybrid approach.
It’s important to note that not all hybrid models are the same. A survey conducted by Zoom identified six different types of hybrid work models used across the world:
- Scheduled Hybrid: Employees have specific days or times designated for remote or office work.
- Flextime Hybrid: Employees can choose their working hours but need to be in the office for certain meetings or collaborative sessions.
- Outcome-based Hybrid: Employees can work remotely if they meet certain performance goals or project deadlines.
- Rotational Hybrid: Different teams or departments alternate between remote and office work.
- Role-based Hybrid: Remote work options are available only to employees in specific roles, depending on job responsibilities.
- Location-based Hybrid: Employees in specific geographic regions or metropolitan areas can work remotely.
Each model attempts to balance flexibility with the organization’s needs, showing just how varied hybrid work arrangements can be.
Global adoption rates for hybrid work
No matter the exact model, the workplace is still changing and becoming more flexible. 75% of leaders think their companies will change their work models in the next two years. A whopping 95% have made their workspaces more flexible recently, and 82% plan to keep making them even more adaptable.
That’s hardly surprising. To stay competitive, organizations need to adopt hybrid models and remain open to exploring new types of work arrangements. Especially since hybrid work preferences vary worldwide: North America generally prefers being in the office, Western Europe likes the hybrid model, and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region tends toward working remotely.
Which brings us to the next point:
Statistics on hybrid work employee preferences
Employee preferences show a strong desire for flexibility in the workplace. If they were to look for a new job, 36% of surveyed employees would choose a “work from anywhere” model, which is 11 percentage points more popular than the traditional in-office model. Flextime is particularly favored among various hybrid work options.
Interestingly, just being in an office doesn’t necessarily mean people feel more connected to their coworkers or managers. Actually, employees who work only in the office often report feeling less connected than those who work in hybrid or fully remote settings. It turns out that hybrid workers are the ones who are most likely to feel a strong connection to their company and colleagues.
However, businesses also need to consider the varying preferences of employees at different stages of their careers—and their lives. Young professionals may be building networks and gaining experience, while older employees might be adjusting their work lives to fit changes in their personal lives. This means there is no perfect workplace model that fits everyone, so organizations must design workplaces that can adapt to these diverse needs.
One more thing supports this view: Most employees (58%) expect their workplace preferences to change throughout their careers, compared to a smaller group (34%) who think their preferences will stay the same or are unsure. Life changes like family dynamics, a desire for better work-life balance as they age, and health issues are often named the main reasons behind their shift in work preferences. Interestingly, employees who work remotely or in hybrid settings are more open to changing their preferences in the future than those who work strictly in-person.
Hybrid work productivity statistics
Many employees find they are more productive in a hybrid or remote setting. 84% report better productivity outside of the traditional office, especially among younger workers. This preference tends to decrease with age, but it remains true across all age groups.
At the same time, statistics on hybrid work from Owl Labs show that managers have seen a shift in workplace stressors, which have an impact on productivity. They now report that their teams are 62% more productive when working in hybrid or remote setups, compared to last year when the figure was 79%.
According to the employees, though, their productivity remains high at 90%, consistent with the previous year, but stress levels are definitely climbing. When asked about their disengagement at work, 26% cited burnout, 22% mentioned unfair compensation, and 17% reported a decline in their mental health over the past year.
Although managers’ perceptions of productivity have slightly decreased, the work location seems less crucial to productivity than before. More managers now feel that the location doesn’t significantly affect outcomes.
Other benefits of hybrid work
Globally, two-thirds of employers recognize that hybrid working has positively impacted their employees’ productivity (66%) and well-being (65%), while also helping to save costs (65%). A smaller majority believe that hybrid working has improved team communications (56%), diversity and inclusion (54%), and workplace culture (51%).
Interestingly, different regions have varied perspectives on the benefits of hybrid working. Employers in Europe are generally less convinced about these positive impacts than their counterparts in the APAC region, which reports the highest positive impacts.
Still, when exploring why people feel optimistic about returning to the office, the top reasons given globally by both employers and employees include interacting and socializing with others (74%), collaborating (71%), brainstorming and coming up with new ideas (53%), and feeling a sense of belonging (46%). On the other hand, the main reasons employees prefer to work from home are the flexibility and comfort it offers and the view that being in the office isn’t necessary. And that’s precisely what makes hybrid work beneficial for everyone.
Collaboration in hybrid work environments
How do people get work done in a hybrid environment? For hybrid workers, the most common setup involves being in the office three to four days per week (34%), as reported by employers. Employers in Europe (26%) are less likely than those in APAC (38%) or the Americas (35%) to have most employees in the office five days a week.
As hybrid working becomes more common, employers have noticed that 40% of office interactions now involve remote participants. Meetings are crucial for most jobs, but they can be difficult to manage effectively when not everyone is in the same room.
Common issues during meetings include technical problems, difficulty seeing or hearing participants, and delays in starting meetings. Hybrid work has also spurred the work-from-anywhere movement, introducing challenges such as coordinating across different time zones. As 87% of workers now say that good technology is a crucial aspect of their job (up from 83% in 2023), choosing the right flexible office tools is increasingly critical.
In response, employers are enhancing the remote and hybrid work experience by training employees and managers to adapt. In 2024, learning and development focused on conducting effective hybrid meetings (49% of employees reported this) and using varied communication methods (47%). Additionally, 47% of workers noted that their companies have increased the use of AI. Apart from investing in hybrid work software, taking care of the office space is also crucial.
Stats on hybrid workplace management
Making the office an appealing place to work has become increasingly difficult every year. The old perks like free beer and ping-pong tables are no longer enough.
Today, employees seek more substantial benefits and office spaces that help them excel at work. They aren’t against working from the office but need more or different incentives than before. In 2024, 91% of workers said they could be persuaded to come into the office if the right benefits were offered, a slight decrease from 94% in 2023.
41% of workers mentioned that higher pay would draw them back to the office. Other appealing factors included a shorter commute (28%), no dress code (23%), and better technology (18%). Office features like more privacy (23%) and additional meeting rooms (14%) were also strong motivators.
The issue is that less than half of employers (47%) and employees (42%) globally feel that their office spaces are well-equipped to support the evolving needs of hybrid work.
Employers and employees in Europe are particularly critical, with only 32% of employers and 37% of employees believing their office setups are adequately prepared. This sentiment stems from concerns that current office designs do not foster productivity, especially considering the changing ways offices are used.
Although collaborating with colleagues is a key reason for coming to the office, 85% of employers report that most of their office space is dedicated to personal working areas.
Employers face the challenge of redesigning office spaces to meet these new expectations and to make them appealing and functional for a multi-generational workforce. Three-quarters of employers consider redesigning their office spaces within the next few years. Are you?
These redesign efforts are largely driven by the need for offices to serve different functions than they did before. Both employers and employees globally agree that the future office should primarily support flexibility and adaptability to provide a more personalized work experience. This need is consistent across all regions.
Future hybrid work trends
The stats on hybrid workplaces are clear: They are not just a temporary trend but becoming the standard way to work. If your business hasn’t considered offering hybrid work options, now might be a good time to start.
Hybrid work data from a recent Robert Half report shows that 37% of U.S. job seekers want fully remote jobs, while 60% prefer a mix of working from home and the office. Additionally, 31% of professionals seeking a new job say they want more flexible work options.
Interestingly, hybrid work can help you attract more skilled workers and keep your current employees happy. Another survey by Robert Half found that 38% of workers who aren’t looking for a new job say they stay because they like the flexibility their job offers.
Leaders should see hybrid work as an essential part of today’s workplace. But to benefit from hybrid work, you need to do more than just announce a hybrid work policy. You must invest in training, provide the right technology and resources, and create a supportive work environment that values everyone equally. You also need to handle common challenges of remote work, like keeping everyone communicating well, working together as a team, and balancing work with personal life.
Although it’s quite a lot of work, there’s a silver lining: By adopting hybrid work models and using effective leadership strategies, you can create inclusive, adaptable, and strong work environments. These environments help employees do their best in a constantly changing business world.
Hybrid workplaces FAQ
Hybrid work models offer many advantages, including happier employees who can better balance work and life, lower costs because less office space is needed, the ability to hire from a wider area, more productive employees, and a better ability to handle unexpected changes like health emergencies.
Hybrid work models can also create some challenges. For example, people working remotely might feel lonely. It can be hard to build team spirit and a united company culture. Communicating smoothly can be challenging when people are in different places. Moreover, it can be challenging to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and included, no matter where they are.
Hybrid work models are ideal because they combine the best of both worlds: the flexibility of working remotely with the advantages of face-to-face interactions in the office. This setup accommodates different work styles and situations, saving the organization money, attracting a broader range of job applicants, and boosting productivity by keeping employees happy and engaged.
Productivity statistics show that many employees feel they get more done when they can work remotely. This is often because they have fewer distractions and don’t spend as much time commuting. However, managers need to use effective strategies to keep productivity high, whether employees are working from home or in the office.
Article sources:
- Zoom’s Navigating the Future of Work: Global Perspectives on Hybrid Models and Technology
- Owl Labs’ 8th Annual State of Hybrid Work
- The State of Hybrid Work, Global 2024 from Webex/Cisco
- Gallup’s Hybrid Work Report
- Robert Half’s Demand for Skilled Talent Report
- Exploring the Effectiveness of Remote and Hybrid Work Policies: A Literature Review on Workforce Management Practices by Duta Mustajab
Berenika Teter
Archie's Content Manager, fueled by filter coffee and a love for remote work. When she’s not writing about coworking spaces and hybrid workplaces, you can probably find her exploring one.
