A brand new report and collection of coverage briefings by a workforce of UK researchers recommend that the shift in the direction of distant and hybrid working has not considerably modified the place folks stay, nor has it helped to distribute expertise extra evenly throughout the nation. Led by Professor Jackie Wahba OBE from the College of Southampton and Dr David McCollum from the College of St Andrews, the analysis was carried out by the ESRC Centre for Inhabitants Change and Connecting Generations, in collaboration with teachers from the College of Birmingham, De Montfort College, and the College of the Arts London. The findings present that almost all distant employees proceed to observe hybrid working patterns, splitting their time between dwelling and the workplace whereas staying inside commuting distance of main employment centres. This pattern limits the potential to scale back regional inequalities or drive financial development exterior of London and the South East.
The researchers found that throughout the UK workforce, simply over 52 p.c by no means work at home. Amongst high-skilled employees, that determine drops to 29 p.c, with the bulk adopting hybrid working preparations that also anchor them close to city job hubs.
Importantly, when high-skilled professionals relocate, housing elements—not job alternatives—are often the first motivation. This challenges the notion that distant work will encourage a extra even unfold of high-earning employees to underperforming areas. Thus far, this shift has but to materialise and will not achieve this with out stronger intervention.
The venture was co-funded by the Financial and Social Analysis Council (ESRC) and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Native Authorities. The researchers warn that with out focused coverage motion, distant working may really worsen regional disparities moderately than shut the hole.
Utilizing information from the UK Family Longitudinal Research and the Labour Power Survey, the analysis additionally concerned interviews with stakeholders from native authorities, companies, and better schooling establishments in Glasgow, Sheffield, and Birmingham—three economically various regional cities present process adjustments in high-skilled employment patterns.
Interviewees cited advantages of dwelling working, together with broader expertise swimming pools, higher area utilisation, and the potential to draw employees because of decrease residing prices. Nevertheless, issues have been additionally raised about quieter metropolis centres, weakened office tradition, and restricted distant work alternatives throughout many sectors.
There was consensus that regional points resembling low expertise, financial inactivity, and poor-quality employment can’t be solved solely by attracting high-skilled professionals. Consultants emphasised the significance of native employees each residing and dealing within the area. This highlights the necessity to spend money on native infrastructure and facilities to retain expertise and help regional resilience.
The report additionally identifies crucial gaps in information on how distant work influences the place folks stay and work. The authors name for improved nationwide surveys, richer native information, and extra employer-focused analysis throughout totally different sectors.
Professor Jackie Wahba commented: “Working from house is now a routine a part of working life and has the potential to reshape employment patterns and residential selections. It presents actual advantages when it comes to flexibility and work-life stability—however we should tackle boundaries to residential mobility if we would like these advantages to be shared extra equally throughout the nation.
“Many believed distant work would enable expert employees to maneuver farther from metropolis centres, boosting struggling areas. However in actuality, it stays commonest amongst greater earners in choose sectors, usually clustered round London and different main cities.”
She added: “We nonetheless know too little concerning the native financial impression of those shifts. We’d like clearer information on who’s working remotely, how usually, and in what sorts of roles. This may enable policymakers to higher help native areas and design simpler, focused interventions.
“Enhancing transport hyperlinks, broadband connectivity, colleges, healthcare, inexperienced areas, cultural facilities, and housing is simply as vital as versatile job choices in attracting and retaining expert employees. With out motion, working from dwelling may deepen—moderately than cut back—regional divides. It’s time for coordinated effort from authorities, employers, and native leaders to make sure versatile working helps sustainable regional development.”
