Hybrid work remains a dominant trend in Europe, despite a steady decline in fully remote roles and growing pressure to return to offices full-time. According to Eurofound, Cyprus had the lowest remote work rate in Europe in 2024, with just 22% of employees working from home at least some of the time. This is a stark contrast to the Netherlands, where 83% of workers enjoy remote or hybrid setups, making it the most flexible country in the region.
Despite strong employee demand for flexibility, remote job postings have been on the decline since 2023. Fully remote roles across the EU have dropped significantly, from 24% in 2022 to just 14% in 2024. The decline is particularly notable among women, whose telework rate fell from 14% in 2022 to 10% in 2024, while for men, it decreased from 10% to 7%.
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At the same time, hybrid work remains the preferred model for many employees. 44% of EU workers in remote-capable roles now follow a hybrid schedule, compared to 41% who work exclusively from the office.
The Gender Gap In Hybrid Work
Across most EU countries, men are more likely to work from home than women. In Cyprus, 25% of men work remotely compared to just 22% of women—the lowest rate in Europe. Meanwhile, the Netherlands leads the way, with 83% of men and 72% of women working from home at least some of the time.
European Leaders And Laggards In Remote Work
The EU shows a fragmented landscape when it comes to flexible work arrangements.
- The most flexible countries are the Netherlands, Ireland, Finland, and Germany, where over 70% of employees enjoy remote or hybrid work options.
- Least flexible countries: Cyprus, Greece, Croatia, Portugal, and Italy—where most employees work exclusively from the office.
The UK, while not included in the Eurofound survey, reports 41% of adults working from home at least part-time, with the highest rate (56%) among those aged 30-49.
Employee Preferences: Strong Demand For Hybrid Options
Despite the declining availability of remote jobs, demand remains high. 74% of EU workers say they prefer to work remotely at least occasionally, with:
- 31% want to work from home several times a week
- 24% preferring full-time remote work
- 18% opting for office-only roles
The desire for full-time remote work has grown since the pandemic, increasing from 13% in 2020 to 24% in 2024.
Inside Hybrid Work: What Industry Experts Are Saying
As the debate over hybrid work models evolves, industry experts share their firsthand observations on the shifting landscape. Hanna Radchenko, CEO of Apercon, highlights how the trend of returning to office-based work is gaining momentum across various regions and sectors.
According to her, between 2024 and 2025, large companies—including tech giants like Apple, Google, and Tesla—are increasingly pulling their teams back into physical offices. In her experience, the most common drivers for this shift vary by region:
- London: Fintech, entertainment, and investment firms.
- Cyprus: Real estate and iGaming.
- Hungary and Germany: Banking and product-based IT companies.
- Austria: Manufacturing and consulting.
- Ukraine: Retail and FMCG.
- USA: E-commerce, manufacturing, and technology companies.
Radchenko notes that while transitioning back to the office complicates hiring by necessitating relocations, it also offers clear advantages:
- Enhanced Process Control: In-person work allows better oversight of task completion and schedule adherence.
- Boosted Productivity: Immediate collaboration speeds up decision-making and problem-solving.
- Fostered Innovation: Direct interaction sparks new ideas and collective solutions.
- Strengthened Corporate Culture: Face-to-face communication builds team cohesion, engagement, and retention.
She emphasizes that the success of any work model—be it office-based, hybrid, or remote—relies on clear business processes and sound personnel strategies. Each company must carefully assess its needs to determine the best path forward.
“With clear task setting, high self-organization among employees, and effective management, remote or hybrid work formats can remain a rational choice, especially in the context of a rapidly changing economic and geopolitical environment,”
Radchenko adds.
The Future Of Hybrid Work
While companies like JPMorgan, Amazon, and Goldman Sachs are pushing for a return to the office, hybrid work remains the dominant model in Europe. Despite a 1% decline last year, hybrid setups remain the most common for employees in remote-capable roles.
With businesses balancing productivity concerns and employee expectations, the future of flexible work in Europe remains dynamic—shaped by evolving corporate policies and workforce preferences.
