Remote work jobs are disappearing, but they’re becoming a talent gold mine for employers still offering them

Bosses of the world’s biggest companies have walked back flexible remarks on office working habits as they seek to get more control over their staffers and make use of expensive office space.

But those who have stood firm against growing return-to-office calls may reap the benefits by accessing the cream of the crop from a growing talent pool. 

Remote positions plummet

According to new data from LinkedIn, the share of remote positions posted on the job site has plummeted in the last 12 months. 

In the U.K., remote job postings have dipped more than 13% since February last year, while in Ireland they have dropped more than 21%. The falls are higher in Germany, France, and the Netherlands.

However, the oppressive message hasn’t gotten through to applicants, who appear as keen for remote work as ever. 

Around two out of five applications on the job site are for remote roles in the U.K., Ireland, and Germany, according to the job board, with little change from early in 2023.

The inevitable outcome, according to LinkedIn, is a higher share of talented individuals will be fighting for a shrinking share of remote jobs, creating a potential goldmine for those employers.

“It’s clear that companies offering flexibility will attract the best talent,” said Josh Graff, managing director for EMEA & LATAM and a vice president at LinkedIn.

“While businesses continue to reflect on what’s right for their organisations, it’s important that business leaders consider the wider benefits of flexible working, which are proven to aid workforce diversity and are particularly appealing for those with care-giving responsibilities.” 

There is still an evident pandemic carryover in remote work levels, with one out of 10 roles in the the U.K. listed as remote, much higher than before COVID-19. 

But LinkedIn’s data is the latest to show a supply-demand mismatch between stubborn employers and flexibility-seeking employees. 

Increasingly, employees appear willing to make sacrifices to maintain a fully remote existence. 

According to a survey by FlexJobs published in October, a majority of employees said remote work was more important to them than their salary, their work-life balance, and a good boss.

That means many workers would be willing to take a pay…