Hybrid working continues to grow, with 28% of UK employees now splitting their time between home and the workplace – up from 25% a year ago. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported a steady increase since March 2022.
However, the trend is far from universal. The likelihood of hybrid working remains strongly linked to job type, income, and education level. Office-based, professional roles in sectors such as accountancy, law, and consultancy are the most likely to offer hybrid arrangements. Employees with a degree or equivalent are ten times more likely to work in a hybrid environment than those without formal qualifications.
In contrast, workers in lower-paid or customer-facing roles – retail, hospitality, healthcare, and construction – are likelier to work in person. The ONS figures show that 44% of employees still commute to a fixed workplace, a rate unchanged from last year.
The push for some level of office attendance has intensified, especially in firms with trainee-heavy teams. Many employers now see in-office time as crucial for collaboration, mentoring, and team cohesion, particularly for younger or newer staff.
Hybrid working patterns are most common among professionals, managers, and those with childcare responsibilities, and are far less prevalent in more deprived areas. Part-time workers are less likely to benefit.
Although working habits have shifted dramatically since the pandemic, hybrid working is not the norm for everyone. It is essentially the preserve of white-collar professionals and reflects deeper socio-economic divides.
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