News research from Hays highlights remote hiring plans in a range of industries across the UK.
- Over a third (34%) of employers in Scotland planning to hire staff who are fully remote
- Scotland second only to London in percentage planning to hire remote-working staff
- Remote vs in-office pay set to stay the same
Over a third (34%) of employers in Scotland are planning to hire staff who are fully remote according to new research released by recruiting experts, Hays. This is higher than the UK average of 28%.
The research, based on a survey of over 22,700 employers and professionals, with over 1,300 respondents in Scotland, found that Scotland came second only to London where over a third (36%) of employers are planning to hire fully remote staff.
18% of employers in Scotland said that remote hiring was a new policy within their organisation, whilst 16% of employers said they have always hired remote staff.
Hiring staff for skills rather than location looks set to increase as over two-fifths (41%) of employers in Scotland say it is now less important that a candidate is based close to the workplace, compared to before the pandemic.
No plans to lower pay for remote workers
According to the research, 88% of employers in Scotland say the salary for remote employees will remain the same as those based in the office. 5% said they intend for salaries to be higher for remote staff, whilst 7% say salaries will be lower.
Director of Hays Scotland, Keith Mason, said: “As employers adjust their hiring plans to a post-pandemic world, it’s encouraging to see over a quarter are hiring for remote roles. Not only does this give employers access to a wider talent pool at a time when competition for staff is high, it also opens up opportunities for those who might have accessibility issues or neurodivergent talent, who might feel more comfortable in a remote environment.
“For employers who are struggling to hire the talent they need, it’s time to think about which roles within their organisation could be done remotely and to what extent. There are lessons to be learned from tech employers who have been early adopters of remote and distributed working. These employers are prepared to be flexible and open-minded about where their talent is located and will have a better chance of closing the skills gap.”
Remote hiring intentions have increased in other UK industry sectors, particularly in tech and HR, where employers are planning to increase remote hiring by 53% and 43% respectively,
In a separate UK-wide poll conducted by Hays, which received over 2,100 responses, 80% of respondents said they don’t believe fully remote workers should be paid less than in office workers.