The Work Index: Black and disabled workers seeking flexible jobs in record numbers
29th Jan 2025
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In the latest Work Index, we've analysed data from throughout 2024 to reveal the biggest work trends of the year, and those set to shape how we work in 2025.
Record numbers of Black and disabled workers seeking flexible jobs
Black, African and Caribbean flexible job seekers nearly tripled in number over the course of 2024. In January 2024, this group accounted for 5% of the total number of workers looking for flexible jobs. By December 2024 this figure had risen to 14%: a record high since the Work Index began recording data in April 2020.
Black people make up just 4% of the UK’s working age population, pointing to higher demand for flexible jobs amongst this group.
Fully remote roles most in-demand despite dwindling supply
There was a clear consensus on the type of role flexible job hunters wanted in 2024.
The majority of workers preferred “fully remote” roles (which let staff work from home on a full-time basis): demand for fully remote jobs rose by 10% over the course of the year. By December 2024, almost two fifths (64%) of all workers wanted to work completely remotely.
Yet on average, just 4% of roles advertised during 2024 offered fully remote work. Hertility Health, Collins Property Recruitment, Camunda and Amplifi were amongst the few employers giving workers the opportunity to work remotely full-time.
Rising numbers of workers also wanted “fully flexible hours”: a request that employers were more likely to fulfil. Since January 2024, demand for fully flexible hours has increased by 80%: by December, over a quarter (27%) of all job seekers preferred roles that allow staff to choose when they start and finish work.
The number of jobs offering fully flexible hours rose by 75% over the course of the year, with supply overtaking demand towards the end of the year. In October 2024, over half (56%) of job posts advertised fully flexible hours. This number levelled out slightly by December 2024, by which point fully flexible hours were still advertised by more than a third (35%) of job posts. Companies offering employees fully flexible hours include PUMA Group, Revolut, and Canva.
Diverse talent demands different benefits: 1 in 3 want mental health support
Demand for mental health support remained consistently high over the past year. On average a third of all workers preferred jobs offering mental health support in 2024. TUI Group, Tangle Teezer, ClearBank and SAP are amongst employers currently offering staff mental health support.
Shorter weeks were also popular: 45% of all job seekers preferred roles advertising 4-day weeks in 2024, on average. Mulberry Group PLC and Atom Bank both offer the benefit.
These findings come against the backdrop of ongoing delays for NHS mental health services, and the launch of the UK’s latest 4-day week trial.
Workers have reason to be optimistic about the availability of such benefits. Whilst job vacancies are declining, wage inflation suggests that employers are willing to make competitive offers to attract and retain the kind of top talent that scaled back teams will rely on in 2025.
Molly Johnson-Jones, CEO & co-founder of Flexa, comments:
“Inflated wages are a sign of companies’ willingness to compete for top performers. But it’s not enough. Where companies are not willing or able to offer the level of remote work that candidates want, they will have to find different ways to compensate top talent in 2025.
The good news is that we’re seeing increasingly diverse talent looking for different kinds of benefits. There is more demand than ever for jobs offering different ways of working amongst those with disabilities and health conditions. And, across the board, demand for mental health support is huge. Both sides will win when companies can answer to this demand. Diverse flexibility and benefits offerings are key to attracting and supporting talent with a range of needs.”