Remote and hybrid work continue to reshape the U.S. job market in 2025. For employers facing talent shortages, offering flexible work arrangements is no longer just a perk, but a competitive advantage. Research shows that candidates are actively seeking flexibility, and companies that embrace it stand to attract, hire, and retain stronger talent.
According to Robert Half’s Demand for Skilled Talent report, nearly three in ten professionals (29%) are either searching or planning to search for a new job in the first half of 2025. Workplace flexibility remains one of the biggest motivators behind these moves. Almost half of job seekers (48%) said they are looking for hybrid roles, while just over a quarter (26%) would prefer a fully remote position. The message is clear: employees are prioritizing choice in how and where they work.
The Employer Advantage
The benefits of flexibility are not limited to employees. For employers, remote and hybrid arrangements expand access to a wider talent pool, which in turn makes it easier to attract skilled candidates. Just as importantly, flexibility has proven to be a powerful retention tool. In a separate Robert Half survey, 76% of workers said that having control over when and where they work directly influences their decision to stay with an employer.
Remote and Hybrid Outlook by Profession
Flexible arrangements are more commonly available in senior-level roles, but opportunities exist at every stage of a career. Robert Half’s analysis of new hybrid and remote jobs created in Q1 2025 found that 31% of postings for senior-level roles (five or more years of experience) included hybrid options, and 15% offered full remote. Mid-level professionals (three to five years of experience) saw slightly fewer opportunities, with 24% of jobs hybrid and 13% remote. Entry-level roles (up to two years of experience) offered the least flexibility, at 18% hybrid and 10% remote.
Overall, hybrid arrangements remain more widely available than fully remote positions across all experience levels.
Remote Work Stabilization: Four in Ten Jobs Now Flexible
One of the most significant remote work trends is stabilization. At the start of 2025, four in ten jobs allowed some level of remote work. Hybrid postings have risen sharply over the past two years, from just 9% in Q1 2023 to 24% today. Fully remote roles also grew, moving from 10% in early 2023 to 13% in early 2025, although growth has leveled off over the last six quarters.
Meanwhile, fully on-site work continues to decline. In 2023, 83% of new jobs required employees to be in-office full-time; that figure has now fallen to 66%. The shift demonstrates that flexible work arrangements are no longer temporary adjustments, and are becoming a lasting feature of the employment landscape.
Hybrid Work Trends by Geography
Robert Half’s geographic analysis revealed notable variations in how flexibility is offered across the U.S. In more rural states, where local talent is harder to source, employers are leaning into remote work. Larger metro states, however, show a stronger preference for hybrid models.
The states with the highest share of hybrid roles in Q1 2025 were:
- Massachusetts: 31%
- Minnesota: 30%
- New York: 29%
- Oregon: 29%
- Colorado: 28%
At the metro level, Sacramento (34%), San Francisco (33%), and Boston (32%) led the way, followed closely by Portland, Minneapolis, Austin, and New York. Other major cities like Phoenix, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta also saw high volumes of new hybrid postings.
Looking Ahead: Flexibility as the Standard
The evidence is overwhelming: remote and hybrid work are an established part of today’s employment market. With four in ten jobs now featuring some form of remote work, flexibility has shifted from a differentiator to an expectation.
For employers, the takeaway is clear. Offering hybrid or remote options is not just about staying aligned with trends. It’s about positioning themselves competitively in 2025 and beyond, both in attracting talent and in keeping their best employees engaged and committed.