New report says working from home is now 'permanent' feature in employment
Despite return to office mandates from some employers, new research suggest working from home (WFH) is a "permanent" fixture in Australia.
Roy Morgan's latest findings show that more than 6.7 million Australians, or 46% of all employed Australians, work from home at least some of the time, paid or unpaid.
"These latest Roy Morgan findings clearly show that 'work-from-home' arrangements have become a permanent and distinct feature of Australia's employment sector," said Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine in a statement.
According to the report, employees in capital cities are more likely to WFH than those in regional areas, with uptake being the highest in Sydney (55%), Melbourne, and Canberra (51%).
WFH in Central Business Districts
WFH is also more popular among workers from Central Business Districts (CBD), where 60% of employees are working from home at least some of the time.
Sydney CBD takes the lead, with 70% of its employees working from home at least some of the time. Coming after it is Melbourne CBD (65%), Canberra CBD (61%), and then Brisbane CBD (52%).
"However, there are three capital cities for which a majority of their CBD workforce does not 'work from home' – Perth (51%), Adelaide (55%), and Darwin (58%)," Levine said.
"The data reveals significant variation by workplace size, sector, and income level, with higher earners more likely to have access to 'working from home' compared to lower-income employees."
Office-return initiatives
The data comes despite findings from Robert Half that revealed 36% of employers have mandated employees to return onsite five days a week in 2024.
A further 39% of employers say they also plan to do so this year, according to the poll.
In a bid to support workers, the Victoria government announced this month that it wants working from home to be enshrined in law by next year.
"Work from home works for families and it's good for the economy," Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan previously said in a statement. "If you can do your job from home, we'll make it your right – because we're on your side."
The announcement came ahead of the upcoming Economic Roundtable from August 19 to 21, which will see the attendance of representatives from business, unions, and governments.
"Clearly the benefits and drawbacks of 'working from home' will be a key factor within these discussions," Levine said.
"Gaining an in-depth understanding of the nuances surrounding current 'working from home' trends across different cities, industries, workplace sizes, and income bands is vital to understand as businesses, employees, and policymakers adapt to a rapidly changing workforce landscape."
