U.K. Sees Surge in Flexible Work Opportunities

Flexible working hours have surged in the UK, driven by increased demand from workers and a growing number of job postings offering flexibility.

Jobs in the U.K. that offer flexible working hours have increased dramatically over the past year.

The latest data from Flexa’s Flexible Working Index reveals a rise in both the demand for and supply of jobs with flexible hours. It’s reported that the increase in flexible opportunities aligns with Labour’s policy to make flexible working hours the standard in the country.

Between June 2023 and June 2024, the proportion of job vacancies offering “a little flexibility” jumped from 25% to 79% — marking an exponential increase of 216%.

The Index, which analyzed data from over 4,000 job advertisements and the preferences of more than 9,000 job seekers, reveals a clear preference towards flexibility in the workplace.

“Not all employers offer workers the level of flexibility they might like around working locations,” said Molly Johnson-Jones, co-founder and CEO of Flexa. “We know this from the resistance RTO mandates continue to be met with. But workers are caring more about when as well as where they work, and flexible working hours are something that far more employers agree with them on, thanks to the trend towards asynchronous work and output-led management.”

Despite the increase in flexible job roles, job postings offering “core hours” have significantly declined — a 76% drop compared to June 2023. Core hours allow employees to work midday hours while completing other tasks at their discretion. However, the demand for such roles remains prevalent, seeing a 27% rise in job seekers preferring this form of flexibility in just one quarter.

This newfound emphasis on flexibility is also reflected in worker sentiment; only 39% of workers in June 2024 reported being indifferent to flexible hours, the lowest portion since December 2021.

The future of work continues to be shaped in the U.K., and the balance between employer requirements and employee’s flexible preferences will be essential to success. Labour’s push for comprehensive flexible working policies might well set the tone for a more balanced and accommodating future of work.