Starbucks is the newest to sign the tip of pandemic-era flexibility: Its CEO Brian Niccol—who had been working remotely himself—lately purchased a home in Seattle and is now calling employees into HQ at the very least 4 days every week, even providing to repay those that gained’t relocate.
However for these not eager on uprooting their lives simply to spend eight hours a day in a cubicle, London nonetheless presents a lifeline.
In accordance with new LinkedIn information, which was completely shared with Fortune, almost 50% of job postings within the UK promote some type of distant work—a determine that dwarfs the 20% at the moment on provide within the U.S., the bottom among the many main economies surveyed.
Whereas company America doubles down on necessary face time, Britain is quietly rising as the worldwide capital of hybrid work.
The UK presents extra flexibility than even France and Italy
The proportion of hybrid job postings on LinkedIn in June 2025
- United Kingdom: 40.1%
- France: 26.7%
- Germany: 28.7%
- Italy: 30.8%
- Eire: 36.4%
- Israel: 38.9%
- United Arab Emirates: 16.2%
- India: 19.0%
- Australia: 31.4%
- United States: 13.1%
The proportion of absolutely distant job postings on LinkedIn in June 2025:
- United Kingdom: 9.0%
- France: 3.1%
- Germany: 6.4%
- Italy: 5.3%
- Eire: 9.6%
- Israel: 3.1%
- United Arab Emirates: 3.7%
- India: 10.6%
- Australia: 4.9%
- United States: 8.6%
The UK at the moment has the very best share of roles nonetheless providing some type of distant work globally. In accordance with LinkedIn’s information, a staggering 40% of roles marketed on the careers platform in June have been hybrid and an additional 9% have been absolutely distant.
And opposite to the frequent assumption that hybrid and distant working is dying a gradual loss of life, in Britain, the other is definitely true: In January 2024, 37% of roles within the UK have been hybrid, highlighting a gradual (3%) uptick in such roles since.
By comparability, in different main European economies like France and Italy, round a 3rd of roles provide hybrid work; nonetheless, they’re experiencing a roughly 10% year-on-year decline in hybrid and distant job postings.
So, for the tons of of 1000’s of Individuals trying to flee the U.S., the UK really presents extra flexibility than France or Italy—with out the language barrier. You’ll simply have to surrender the dream of a €1 villa.
Though the research was based mostly on the UK, its capital London dominates job progress—and as Tamara Primary Vasiljev, the top economist for EMEA at LinkedIn, instructed Fortune, the town presents a singular mix of financial pressures and infrastructure quirks that make hybrid work stick.
“The UK’s place is influenced by its service-oriented financial system, with London enjoying a dominant position as a worldwide providers hub,” she defined, including that workplace house is dear and so too are prepare tickets, leaving many dwelling within the suburbs.
“These components have doubtless contributed to creating hybrid work extra engaging and sensible in the UK than in lots of comparable international locations.”
It maybe explains why Amazon—the tech big that sparked the domino impact throughout company America after being the primary main firm to crack down on distant work—has reportedly been compelled to take a softer stance in Britain.
Hybrid job advertisements are extra in style
In at the moment’s tight expertise market, flexibility sells. In accordance with LinkedIn’s information, job commercials providing hybrid working appeal to as much as 3 times extra purposes than these requiring full-time workplace attendance. That makes preserving hybrid choices not only a perk, however a strong recruitment instrument.
And it’s not exhausting to see why. Folks have moved additional than ever from their workplaces. Analysis final yr by Trainline confirmed the variety of individuals spending greater than three hours attending to work and again—in any other case often called “super-commuting”—doubled since earlier than the pandemic.
It’s not simply that staff don’t need to endure hours on finish on public transport. With inflation excessive however wages low, some unemployed Gen Z grads can’t really afford the commute, and are having to show down work for that cause.
After which there’s working dad and mom who’ve been in a position to higher juggle pickups, drop-offs, and the rising price of childcare, by with the ability to work at home—even just a few days every week could make the distinction between staying in a job or being one of many tons of of 1000’s of mothers who have been compelled to depart the workforce as in-office working has picked up once more.
In the end, British corporations could not match U.S. paychecks—however in a world the place flexibility is the brand new forex, it could possibly be sufficient to lure high expertise throughout the pond.
Have you ever thought-about shifting to the U.Ok. for extra work-life steadiness? Or have you ever already made the transfer? Fortune desires to listen to from you: orianna.royle@fortune.com
