Number of job ads offering WFH arrangements still high amid return-to-office mandates: Seek data
Australian employers still see flexible work-from-home arrangements as key to attracting top talents, fresh figures suggest.
The share of job advertisements offering WFH declined half a percentage point month-on-month to 9.5 per cent in December. But it is still well above pre-COVID levels, according to new data from online employment marketplace Seek on Wednesday.
Seek said this small decline in ads offering the flexible arrangement was unsurprising given more than half of workers still prefer to work from home two or more days a week.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Since the onset of COVID, job seekers have had an increased focus on work-life balance with many considering WFH as an important contributor to achieving it,” Seek said.
“Offering hybrid and flexible working has become one that businesses can compete for talent.”
The data comes amid increasing return-to-office mandates from local and international companies like Bendigo Bank, financial services group AMP, Flight Centre, e-commerce giant Amazon and tech firm Dell.
Woolworths last month also ordered its 10,000 office staff to commit to spending at least three days a week in the office by October.
Last November, rival Coles announced a similar three-day mandate for its 5000 office staff.
The supermarket went one step further than Woolworths by requiring employees to ensure at least one of the days falls on a Monday or Friday, effectively ruling out staff taking extra-long weekends away and working remotely.
Seek says the ACT now leads the nation in offering WFH in job ads, with declines recorded in the previously leading NSW and Victoria. Tasmania and WA were the lowest at 6.7 per cent.
“The differences in WFH share across regions appear to reflect the relative industry mix across the States and Territories,” it said.
“Higher WFH industries like information and communication technology . . . account for a much greater share of ads in the ACT than in any other region.”
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays remain the most popular days for Melbourne workers to go into the office, though Monday attendance has increased.
Since April 2023, the share of job ads offering WFH declined in most industries. The legal industry is one of the few industries where the WFH share of ads has grown.
Seek said this likely reflected the labour shortages within the industry.
