Record numbers of Black and disabled workers looked for jobs with flexible schedule arrangements in 2024, setting the stage for major talent trends in 2025, according to a Jan. 28 report from Flexa.
Most workers said they wanted fully remote jobs, even as these high-demand roles dwindled throughout the year.
“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,” Molly Johnson-Jones, CEO and co-founder of Flexa, said in a statement.
“Both sides will win when companies can answer to this demand,” she said. “Diverse flexibility and benefits offerings are key to attracting and supporting talent with a range of needs.”
Based on data from more than 25,000 job ads and 60,000 job seekers, the number of Black, African and Caribbean job seekers looking for flexible work nearly tripled during 2024, jumping from 5% in January to 14% in December and marking a record high since April 2020.
In addition, the number of workers with disabilities or health conditions seeking flexible roles increased by 50%, peaking during the fall and matching the previous record of 19% in August 2021. Notably, this group’s growing share of the flexible job market contrasts with the rising rate of joblessness among workers with long-term illnesses, the report found.
The demand for fully remote roles rose by 10%, with 64% of job seekers wanting a remote job by the end of the year. At the same time, only 4% of job ads offered fully remote work in 2024.
An increasing number of workers also wanted “fully flexible hours,” which increased by 80% during the year. By December 2024, 27% of job seekers said they preferred a role that allows staff to choose when they start and finish work. The number of jobs offering flexible hours rose by 75%, potentially pointing to a viable option for both employers and employees in 2025.
Remote work options have boosted employment numbers among people with disabilities, according to a Kessler Foundation report. HR teams can help maintain the gains by implementing a central accommodation fund and prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in recruiting and hiring, experts said.
Remote roles can also provide psychological safety in a toxic work environment, particularly for racial and ethnic minorities, according to a Randstad executive. Prioritizing DEI in a hybrid work environment can provide crucial well-being support for workers and build a strong culture, the report found.
Despite widespread return-to-office mandates, job seekers are still largely seeking flexible work, according to another Flexa report. Although 59% of job hunters prefer fully remote roles, only 2% of job ads offered this arrangement between July and September, and these numbers continue to decline as hybrid roles grow.
