The latest analysis indicates a significant increase in job roles offering flexible working hours, reflecting broader work trends.
- Data shows that jobs with “a little flexibility” have more than tripled from last year, with 79% of job adverts now offering this benefit.
- The trend aligns with the new Government’s policy to make flexible hours standard from the start of employment.
- Despite the rise in flexible hours, job vacancies offering ‘core hours’ have significantly decreased, with only 8% advertised last month.
- Workers are increasingly placing importance on when they work, with a 20% drop in those indifferent to flexible hours since April.
The latest Flexible Working Index provides a detailed examination of the growing trend towards jobs offering flexible working hours. As part of a broader societal shift, data indicates that such roles have more than tripled within a year, driven by increasing demand from both employers and jobseekers. Notably, this change coincides with government initiatives to promote family-friendly working environments, with plans to enshrine the right to flexible working in employment law.
Between June 2023 and June 2024, the percentage of job vacancies advertising ‘a little flexibility’—allowing staff to adjust their start and finish times—rose from 25% to 79%, signalling a 216% increase. This remarkable rise is indicative of a significant employer shift towards accommodating employee needs. The government’s support for flexible working underscores this trend, as seen in recent policy developments aimed at safeguarding workers’ personal time.
Simultaneously, there is a marked decline in job postings with ‘core hours’. Such roles, which allow employees to complete their tasks on a flexible schedule but require presence during specific hours, have dropped from comprising a third of job listings in June 2023 to a mere 8% in June 2024. This indicates a 76% decrease, signifying a transition towards more open-ended work hours as desired by the workforce.
The demand for flexible working hours is underscored by a growing preference among job seekers. The Flexa platform reports that fewer workers are indifferent to the timing of their work, with a notable drop in those who ‘don’t mind’ having flexible hours—the lowest it has been since December 2021. This shift suggests that employees are increasingly seeking roles that offer greater autonomy over their schedules.
Molly Johnson-Jones, co-founder and CEO of Flexa, highlights this shift, pointing out that while not all employers have adapted to flexible locations, the transition to flexible hours is more broadly accepted. The current work climate, influenced by asynchronous work patterns and output-focused management, supports this development, enabling workers to optimise work-life balance effectively. She notes, ‘Not since the pandemic have workers cared as much about having flexible working hours as they do now.’
The ongoing shift towards flexible working underscores a significant change in employment trends, reflecting broader societal values and legislative support.
