According to new analysis published by the South West TUC today (Friday), the South West has the highest proportion of home workers in the country, with 1 in 12 workers (188,000) reported to have worked from home regularly in 2018. But not enough bosses are giving their workers the option of homeworking.
Today’s report has been released to mark Work Wise UK’s National Work from Home Day.
Although 8.1% of the region’s workforce regularly worked from home in the last year, this was largely due to the rural nature of the South West – with agricultural and manufacturing workers coming top of those most likely to work from home.
Not enough bosses are realising the benefits that homeworking can bring and refuse to offer their workers this option. Flexible working can improve people’s work-life balance, ensure people can spend more time with their families as well as cut down on long commute times common to many parts of the South West region.
The TUC estimates around 4 million more UK workers say they would like to work from home for at least some of their working week – but aren’t given the chance.
South West TUC Regional Secretary Nigel Costley said:
“In many cases, homeworking is a win-win-win. Workers get more time with their families, employers can boost productivity and hang on to experienced staff, and the environment benefits as well.”
“But too many employers in the South West are still clinging to tradition, or don’t trust their staff enough to encourage homeworking. It’s time they caught up.”
“Unions can help negotiate home working policies that work positively for both employers and staff. But the government must also support the region by investing in decent broadband infrastructure so that every worker can get a high-speed connection at home.”
The analysis also reveals that:
- Gender: There are almost twice as many men as women homeworkers. Although women are catching up with more than a third (36%) more working from home than a decade ago.
- Homeowners: People who own their home are 73% more likely to work at home than renters.
- Age: Older workers are more likely to work at home, with 7.5% of 40-59 year olds homeworking but only 3.4% 20-29 year olds.
- Occupation: 11.9% of managers work at home – more than any other group
- Disabled workers: Homeworking can be an important way for disabled workers to access the labour market, and there are 270,000 disabled people who work from home.
Chief Executive of Work Wise UK, the organiser of National Work from Home Day, Phil Flaxton said:
“Whilst it is encouraging to see a significant increase in the number of employees working from home there still needs to be a cultural shift for it to be accepted more widely.
“Attitudes are changing on how we balance or mix work and lifestyle. Increasing mobility and technology is shifting the acceptance or need for traditional 9-5 work patterns, to be replaced by a more flexible approach to the working week and this trend will continue as more of us embrace new, smarter ways of working such as working from home.
“More employers need to realise the tangible benefits of changing outdated working practices to reflect the connected world in which we live. These include, increased productivity, staff retention, less absenteeism and employee burnout.
“The business case is sound, and it really can be a win-win for all concerned.”
Number of UK employees who regularly work from home
|
2008 |
% of workforce |
2018 |
% of workforce |
|
|
Men |
865,000 |
6.7 |
1,062,000 |
7.6 |
|
Women |
483,000 |
3.8 |
659,000 |
4.8 |
|
All |
1,348,000 |
5.2 |
1,722,000 |
6.1 |
Source: ONS Labour Force Survey Q4
– Number of employees who regularly work from home by nation/region in 2018
|
|
Number |
% of workforce |
|
South West |
188,000 |
8.1% |
|
UK |
1,722,000 |
6.1% |
Source: ONS Labour Force Survey Q4
– Number of UK employees who regularly work from home by industry in 2018
|
|
Number |
% workforce |
|
Agriculture forestry and fishing |
31,000 |
15.4% |
|
Manufacturing |
184,000 |
6.5% |
|
Electricity, gas and air supply |
34,000 |
12.0% |
|
Construction |
186,000 |
13.8% |
|
Wholesale and retail |
136,000 |
3.6% |
|
Transport and storage |
95,000 |
5.8% |
|
Hotels and restaurants |
25,000 |
1.6% |
|
Transport, storage and communication |
95,000 |
5.8% |
|
Finance and insurance |
25,000 |
1.6% |
|
Real estate, renting and business activities |
469,000 |
12.3% |
|
Public administration and defence |
108,000 |
5.2% |
|
Education |
91,000 |
3.0% |
|
Health and social work |
159,000 |
3.9% |
|
Other service activities |
108,000 |
7.6% |
|
All industries |
1,722,000 |
6.1% |
Source: ONS Labour Force Survey Q4
– Number of UK employees who regularly work from home by age in 2018
|
|
Number |
% workforce |
|
16-19 |
16,000 |
1.6% |
|
20-29 |
207,000 |
3.4% |
|
30-39 |
345,000 |
6.0% |
|
40-49 |
444,000 |
7.5% |
|
50-59 |
433,000 |
7.6% |
|
60 and above |
254,000 |
11.0% |
|
All ages |
1,722,000 |
6.1% |
About the TUC: The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We bring together more than 5.5 million working people who make up our 49 member unions. We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living.
