Shedworking: Managers, parents and over 30s are more likely to hybrid work

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Managers, parents and over 30s are more likely to hybrid work

The Office for National Statistics' latest survey makes for interesting reading about the types of workers most likely to be following a hybrid working pattern and how they spend their time.

According to its Opinions and Lifestyle survey, more than a quarter of working adults in Great Britain (28%) were hybrid working this autumn (slightly surprisingly, the trend in working only from home has fallen since 2021). Hybrid working is more common among those aged over 30, parents, those working as managers or professionals, and those in industries that require less face-to-face contact. Those with higher qualifications were also more likely to hybrid work. Pictured top is the percentage of working adults by working arrangement in Britain between January 2021 to October this year.

Those working from home saved an average of 56 minutes that day from not commuting, and findings suggest that some of that time was spent on rest, exercise, sports and well-being.

People who worked from home on a given day spent an average of 24 minutes more on ‘sleep and rest’ and 15 minutes more on ‘exercise, sports and well-being’ on the respective day compared with those who worked away from home. Indeed, 'Improved staff well-being' has continued to be one of the most frequently reported business reasons for using or intending to use increased hybrid and homeworking, according to the ONS's Business Insights and Conditions Survey.

Of people surveyed between April 10 and 30 June 2024, 29% of workers aged 30 years and older followed a hybrid working pattern, compared with 19% for those aged 16 to 29 years old. Working parents were more likely to hybrid work (35%) compared with working non-parents (24%). And male working parents were more likely to hybrid work than female working parents (41% compared with 30% respectively).

Close to half (45%) of those in more senior occupations e.g. managers, directors and senior officials followed a hybrid working model, compared with 27% of all workers. Workers with a degree or equivalent qualification were 10 times more likely to hybrid work than those with no qualifications (42% compared with 4% respectively).

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