Remote Work and Hiring Trends Influencing Workforce Decisions
Remote work and shared office spaces have become the norm globally and South Africa is no different, as employees across industries have pushed to keep the work-from-home structures in place. Although remote work is not possible for all, for many it is the new way of life with many businesses seeing a large number of their employees working from home full time while others split their time between home and office.
Over recent years, remote working has seen a growth of 160% year-on-year according to a 2022 article by CHRO. While the remote and hybrid model has its challenges in SA with issues such as load shedding and connectivity problems, statisticians expect that the remote work model won’t change any time soon as many businesses have already invested in technologies and policies to manage the new remote work environment.
Remote work hiring trends
While many lower income positions have returned to the office with little prospect of returning to remote work, there is a clear indication that higher-paid positions are continuing with remote work or hybrid structures according to a survey by BrandMapp that indicates that 47% of respondents earning less than R40 000 a month returned to the office full-time while only 37% of those earning more than R40 000 per month did the same.
According to Career Junction, there are 46 times more remote job opportunities when compared to January 2020. Industries such as information technology, finance, business and management, sales and office admin are continuing to offer remote job opportunities specifically for high-demand positions where remote work often comes as a prerequisite for the professionals being recruited for these positions.
International brands in the technology sector have also increased their hiring within the South African market, giving South African professionals the opportunity to work with companies abroad from home. With international brands entering the South African market offering the benefit of remote work, it is expected that the market will continue towards this trend in the years to come.
These remote hiring trends allow organisations to access a larger talent pool, hire skilled professionals from different locations across South Africa and the globe while reducing costs associated with onsite hiring.
Challenges facing the remote work landscape
The challenges that face remote work and the hiring of remote workers are a cause for concern for many businesses with fears over lost productivity due to load shedding and connectivity problems. In response to this many businesses have opted for a hybrid work environment where employees are required to work from the office for part of the week, shifting between home and the office.
For a large number of these businesses, remote workspaces have become a middle ground where employees who are pushing for remote work can work in an environment that offers the power and internet stability that a traditional office would but still allow them the freedom and flexibility of working from home.
Remote workspaces offer benefits for businesses and employees alike
These remote workspaces offer an environment where employees can choose between an open, collaborative work environment among other like-minded professionals or choose to work in a more focused and private office space. In addition these spaces offer all the amenities needed by business professionals to give them a comfortable place to work productively.
Venture Workspace has positioned itself to be an office away from the office, offering flexible shared office options for day-to-day or monthly members. Our shared office spaces in Constantia, Claremont, Somerset West and Fourways, Johannesburg are perfectly suited to remote employees, independent professionals, entrepreneurs and freelancers.
Contact Venture Workspace today to book your space!
