The Remote Friendly Industries Study 2025: The top rankings

Demand vs reality: Fewer than 5% of UK jobs are fully remote, yet demand remains high, especially in finance and leisure.

Topline summary

• Remote work options remain limited: Out of 113,874 UK job listings analysed, under 5% were advertised as fully remote.

• Demand for remote jobs remains strong: Demand for remote work remains significantly higher than for office-based roles, with Google Trends showing 91,000 searches for “UK remote jobs” in comparison to 21,000 for “office jobs UK” over the past year.

• Top remote-friendly sectors: The financial sector leads in remote opportunities (24.6%), followed by leisure & tourism (20.3%), insurance (17.7%), sales (13.6%), and estate agency (11.4%), highlighting the sectors most likely to embrace flexible work.

• Type of remote roles: Positions and pay vary across industries. The majority of jobs are offered as full-time roles, while part-time remote opportunities remain limited. Meanwhile, high-paying remote roles are concentrated in a few industries, while lower-rate positions offer more flexibility.

• Business advantage: Employers can leverage remote-friendly policies to attract and retain talent, as well as improve productivity to build a collaborative, inclusive team.

We have always championed some form of remote working, even before it became mainstream practice during the pandemic.

While we previously operated from a WeWork space, we transitioned to a fully remote setup within a year, which has enabled us to attract talent from a wider area and provided our team with a better work-life balance.

However, over the last couple of years, there has been increasing scrutiny over remote-working and flexible working options, with many companies such as Amazon, Boots and even the Civil Service ordering staff back to the office.

This is despite an estimated 23.2 million Brits working from home at least some of the time, and our Workplace Values Study highlighting that flexibility is the second most important factor for jobseekers, with around one in six saying that a lack of flexible options harms their work-life balance.

In addition, due to the pressures of a return to office mandate, over a million UK employees have changed roles, with many pointing to a lack of flexible or remote working options as a key factor.

The Remote Friendly Industries Study

To explore how shifting attitudes to flexible working are affecting the UK workforce, our ‘Remote Friendly Industries Study' dives into why demand for remote working remains high and which sectors are truly embracing it.

Using data from job listing site, Reed, we analysed 113,874 jobs across 29 industries to identify which are most remote-friendly ahead of 2026 and where employers are more likely to advertise remote roles.

We found that out of 113,874 listings available on Reed, just under 5% (5,404) of those were listed solely as remote working jobs.
Despite this, demand for these positions is significantly high.

According to Google Trends results, there were 91,000 searches for “UK remote jobs” in comparison to “Office jobs UK” (at 21,000) over the last year.

Both search terms saw a slight dip compared to the year prior, with remote jobs down by 3% and office roles falling by 7%, indicating that while interest in both types of roles has eased slightly, remote work continues to attract substantially higher attention from job seekers.

So, which industries are best for remote working?

The UK’s most remote-friendly industries in 2025

The best industries for remote working opportunities

Our research shows that those wanting to work remotely in the financial sector had the highest chance of finding a viable position, with nearly a quarter of advertised roles being labelled as WFH.

Following closely behind is the leisure & tourism sector with the second largest number of remote positions at just over 20%. Interestingly, the industry also scored in the top half of the Employee Benefits Index, which reflects a broader trend towards improved perks and flexibility within the sector.

Insurance, sales and estate agencies also made the top five, each offering a noticeably higher proportion of remote roles compared to the national average, highlighting how certain sectors are leading the shift toward location-flexible working.

The worst industries for remote working opportunities

There are cases where certain industries have little to no remote working options due to the intangible nature of the roles, which require an on-site presence.

These industries included retail, manufacturing, automotive, social care, transport, and education, where each had fewer than 1% of remote positions available.

Although remote roles remain low, research from Schools Week found that flexible working is slowly increasing in some sectors, for example, just over half of teachers and school leaders now have a flexible working schedule in place this year.

Because these sectors depend heavily on face-to-face interaction or specialised equipment, most roles simply cannot be replicated remotely. 

However, this lack of flexibility is said to be creating a ‘two-tier system’ where frontline workers are at a disadvantage in accessing remote opportunities compared to those in office-based and managerial positions.

In these cases, it may be beneficial for employers to use alternative reward structures, such as growth shares or share options.

What does the availability of remote roles look like across industries?

• Around 88% of remote roles were full-time, with only 12% offered on a part-time basis, showing a strong preference for traditional working patterns even in remote settings.
  
  
• Industries such as IT & telecoms (99% full-time) and financial services (94% full-time) provided the highest share of full-time remote roles, offering stability for those seeking consistent remote work.
  
  
• In comparison, sectors like hospitality and catering (79% part-time) and estate agency (34% part-time) offered a disproportionately higher share of part-time remote roles, although these opportunities were limited in number.

What are the top-paying remote industries in the UK?

As remote working becomes more common, a key question for job seekers is not only where remote roles are available, but also where they pay the most.

We’re witnessing an emerging executive remote trend, with senior leaders increasingly reassessing traditional office-based expectations. 

Moreover, our C-Suite Churn Report highlights rising turnover and shorter tenure among senior leaders, suggesting that offering enhanced flexibility could become a key factor in attracting and retaining top talent.

From the analysis, it’s clear that remote work is not evenly distributed across pay bands. Certain sectors stand out for offering high-paying remote opportunities, while others provide more flexibility in lower-rate roles, reflecting the different needs and priorities of employees.

1. Sectors with the highest remote work in ‘Additional Rate’ tax bands

Remote working opportunities appeared to be largely available within the highest-paying job bands. Estate agency roles were found to have the highest number of remote jobs in the ‘Additional Rate’ tax bracket, with nearly 10% of all roles in the sector.

Financial services come in second, despite having the largest growth in the number of remote roles. 

Banking, energy and administration complete the top five, highlighting that a diverse range of industries now offer remote opportunities for top-paying positions, while also increasing competition for senior and leadership talent.

Top five remote-friendly industries in the
‘Additional Rate’ tax bracket

2. Sectors with remote work mostly in the ‘Higher-Rate’ tax bands

A small number of industries dominate the mid to upper-paying remote roles. Financial services tops the list, leaving a widening gap behind, with almost 20% of remote jobs falling into the ‘High-Rate’ tax bracket. 

Top five remote-friendly industries in the
‘High-Rate’ tax bracket

3. Sectors with the highest remote work in low-pay bands

The findings also show that remote work is no longer concentrated at the top of the pay scale. A significant share of remote roles now sits within the ‘Basic Rate’ tax bracket, signalling that employers are extending flexibility to entry-level positions as well as senior talent.

Top five remote-friendly industries in the
‘Basic Rate’ tax bracket

Remote working and accessibility

According to the Government’s Select Committee report, one of the most significant advantages of flexible or remote working is the positive impact it can have on people with caring responsibilities, such as parents and carers. It can allow them to face fewer pressures around childcare and scheduling.

It can also open doors for disabled people, removing barriers such as commuting, navigating inaccessible workplaces, or managing health needs around strict office hours.

This can also help to make work more accessible for neurodivergent employees who might otherwise struggle in a traditional work environment.

In addition, the report recommended that employers be supported to invest in management training for effective remote and hybrid working, including a review of proposed cuts to leadership-focused apprenticeship programmes.

What business leaders can learn from the remote working findings

For business leaders looking to improve employee retention rates or improve the benefits package, it’s crucial to acknowledge how remote work is influencing the job market to ensure your organisation remains competitive by offering benefits that align with evolving employee priorities.

With this in mind, we’ve highlighted some strategic recommendations based on the findings that can help leaders shape a more competitive benefits package.

1. Collaboration and knowledge sharing across teams

Remote working comes with the need for employees to have a self-motivated attitude, but it can also unlock greater productivity when the right structures are in place. 

There is often the fear that remote working can cause loneliness if it’s not implemented correctly, which means employers must proactively build systems that encourage collaboration and support. 

However, without the distractions of a traditional office environment, Senior Product Manager Hester Griffin noted how employees often report a self-determination to succeed as they’re able to work in the comfort of their home.

"Remote working doesn’t just change where we work - it changes how people feel about their work. With the right support, people become more focused and confident in delivering results."

To ensure team members feel supported and motivated, regular check-ins and employee benefits packages for small businesses and larger ones, which include mental health support or wellbeing resources, can help bridge the gap and maintain a more connected workforce. 

Companies’ benefits packages are increasingly expected to include, as our study with YouGov revealed, that 40% of Brits believe health and wellbeing policies are critical to workplace happiness - a reminder that flexibility and mental health support are now key drivers of a positive employee experience.

2. Market talent & hiring

Remote working is increasingly a key factor for attracting and retaining top talent, particularly in creative and leadership-focused roles. 

Companies that offer flexible work options can stand out in competitive markets, appealing to professionals who prioritise a healthy work-life balance.

Keeping flexibility front and centre can not only help to attract skilled talent but may also improve retention and reduce turnover by maintaining a motivated workforce, whose preferred ways of working are respected.

3. Share schemes and long-term growth incentives

Offering benefits such as growth shares or options awarded under a company share scheme has been highlighted as a highly desired long-term incentive by employers.

Share incentive plans help boost retention and reward long-term commitment, especially for companies that might have restricted flexible working offerings.

Companies across different sectors have also adopted similar initiatives. DIY retail chain Wickes rewarded their employees at the end of 2025 with a collective £14.1 million windfall, illustrating the role of schemes such as Save as You Earn (SAYE) in boosting workforce morale and retention.

Demonstrating this kind of investment and long-term progression reassures employees that staying with the company can lead to long-term financial rewards.

Startup and Investment Consultant, Amber Nasir, said that enabling employees to have a long-term investment in the company doesn’t just benefit the business but also creates a stronger self-belief to work towards shared success.

"Giving employees a stake in the company’s future creates a deeper sense of commitment. It allows people to become more engaged and dedicated to the business when they benefit directly from the value they help create.”

Methodology

Vestd analysed data from Reed in November 2025, filtering 113,874 job listings across 29 industries by position type and remote working availability.

The analysis reviewed each industry’s remote job availability, comparing the number of total roles with those advertised as remote. Previously collected data from 2022 was also used to assess changes in flexibility over time.

Industries analysed include marketing, law, finance, HR, tech, and others, with multiple roles considered where possible. To provide further insight, average salaries were examined by job type and flexibility level to explore potential correlations.

Tax band brackets were compared using the Government’s income tax rates in relation to the salary listed on the job advertisement via Reed.

Additionally, Google Trends data was used to compare public interest in “remote jobs” versus “office jobs,” providing a broader perspective on evolving demand for remote working.

Full findings are available upon request. All data is correct as of November 2025.