A map has today revealed the areas where companies are letting staff work from home most, with Worthing, Stoke and Burnley among the towns topping the list of so-called ‘Zoom’ hotspots.

New figures show how the West Sussex seaside town of Worthing has seen a 650 per cent rise in jobs postings with remote working on offer since the first Covid lockdown.

Figures also show a huge increase in the number of ‘flexible working’ positions in the city of Dundee, east Scotland, where job postings have increased by 319 per cent.

The former booming industrial town of Burnley has seen a 391 per cent rise increase in work from home job posts between March 2020 and March this year.

Stoke-on-Trent, best known as the home of England’s pottery industry, finished third with a 323 per cent increase in postings with remote working in the last two years. 

Meanwhile port and seaside towns that featured consistently in the top 25, with Southend (320 per cent) Plymouth (308 per cent) and Bournemouth (268 per cent) all among the list.

The analysis, carried out by Zoom and jobs site Indeed, comes amid a growing row over the future of work from home – which became the default position following the first Covid lockdown in March 2020.

Despite all remaining Covid rules in England being lifted in March, millions of workers continue to work from home or have flexible working arrangements, including three days in the office and two days at home.  

And, according to figures published in February, people in London are still working from home more than anywhere else in Britain – with half of employees still at their kitchen table or ‘hybrid working’.

But while private firms are setting their own rules to fit their needs, the Government is now increasingly pushing civil servants back to the office – despite resistance from stubborn union chiefs.

Last month Jacob Rees-Mogg ordered Cabinet ministers to end Whitehall’s work from home culture as figures revealed how several key ministries – including the Foreign Office and Department for Education – had on average less than a third of staff in the office over the first week in April.

Britons who want to work from home should get jobs in seaside towns such as Worthing, Southend and Bournemouth, according to newly analysed figures

Britons who want to work from home should get jobs in seaside towns such as Worthing, Southend and Bournemouth, according to newly analysed figures

Britons who want to work from home should get jobs in seaside towns such as Worthing, Southend and Bournemouth, according to newly analysed figures

The West Sussex seaside town of Worthing finished top of the list, with a 650 per cent rise in postings with remote working from the start of the pandemic in March 2020 until March this year

The West Sussex seaside town of Worthing finished top of the list, with a 650 per cent rise in postings with remote working from the start of the pandemic in March 2020 until March this year

The West Sussex seaside town of Worthing finished top of the list, with a 650 per cent rise in postings with remote working from the start of the pandemic in March 2020 until March this year

It was port and seaside towns that featured consistently in the top 25, with Southend (320 per cent) Plymouth (308 per cent) and Bournemouth (pictured) (268 per cent) all among the list

It was port and seaside towns that featured consistently in the top 25, with Southend (320 per cent) Plymouth (308 per cent) and Bournemouth (pictured) (268 per cent) all among the list

It was port and seaside towns that featured consistently in the top 25, with Southend (320 per cent) Plymouth (308 per cent) and Bournemouth (pictured) (268 per cent) all among the list

Southend (pictured: Southend beach) was one of the seaside towns to feature as one of the top 25 'Zoom Towns' in a new analysis

Southend (pictured: Southend beach) was one of the seaside towns to feature as one of the top 25 'Zoom Towns' in a new analysis

Southend (pictured: Southend beach) was one of the seaside towns to feature as one of the top 25 ‘Zoom Towns’ in a new analysis

The figures by Zoom and Indeed show which areas have become ‘Zoom towns’ – those offering an increasing number of jobs with hybridge working or working from home.

According to the data, recorded between February 2020, prior to the pandemic, and March 2022, when most restrictions had been lifted, in each of the top 25 locations, job adverts that offer candidates the flexibility to work remotely have more than tripled.

They have grown at a faster pace than the local jobs market overall – indicating that the rise in remote roles over the last two years has driven up opportunity in each area.

While southern seaside towns such as Worthing, Bournemouth and Southend featured high in the list, only three of the so-called ‘Zoom towns’ are located in London or the South East – regions traditionally associated with greater economic activity.

Northern cities, including Manchester (291 per cent), Leeds (289 per cent) Liverpool (241 per cent) and Newcastle (231 per cent), featured in the top 25 list.

Meanwhile, Scottish towns and cities Edinburgh (304 per cent), Dundee (319 per cent) Aberdeen (231 per cent) and Glasgow (219 per cent) were all on the list.

Commenting on the statistics, Phil Perry, Head of UK & EMEA North at Zoom, said: ‘The UK has the potential to be a global leader in hybrid working, and Indeed’s data shows how greater access to remote roles is already helping to drive growth in overall opportunities across the country.

Northern cities, including Manchester (291 per cent), Leeds (289 per cent) Liverpool (241 per cent) and Newcastle (pictured) (231 per cent), featured in the top 25 list

Northern cities, including Manchester (291 per cent), Leeds (289 per cent) Liverpool (241 per cent) and Newcastle (pictured) (231 per cent), featured in the top 25 list

Northern cities, including Manchester (291 per cent), Leeds (289 per cent) Liverpool (241 per cent) and Newcastle (pictured) (231 per cent), featured in the top 25 list

Meanwhile, Scottish towns and cities Edinburgh (pictured) (304 per cent), Dundee (319 per cent) Aberdeen (231 per cent) and Glasgow (219 per cent) were all on the list

Meanwhile, Scottish towns and cities Edinburgh (pictured) (304 per cent), Dundee (319 per cent) Aberdeen (231 per cent) and Glasgow (219 per cent) were all on the list

Meanwhile, Scottish towns and cities Edinburgh (pictured) (304 per cent), Dundee (319 per cent) Aberdeen (231 per cent) and Glasgow (219 per cent) were all on the list

‘During the pandemic, adoption of video conferencing tools like Zoom by SMEs was higher in the UK than in any other G7 country, and we are now beginning to see how greater availability of hybrid roles is expanding opportunity in areas outside of London and the South East. 

‘This underlines the vital role hybrid technologies can play in levelling up the country, and getting the conditions right now will help the UK reap long-term economic benefits.’

Jack Kennedy, UK Economist at Indeed, said: ‘The increased availability of remote and hybrid options across the UK is a boon for workers, giving them much greater choice over where they live and work.

‘It’s particularly important for those who want or need flexibility to accommodate their commitments outside of work. 

‘Employers benefit in being able to widen geographic access to talent and accommodate workers who would otherwise face barriers, which is especially valuable in a tight labour market.

‘ Moreover, being able to offer employees better work-life balance means organisations can reap the benefits of a happier and more productive workforce.’

Source: Daily Mail

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