The findings, which analysed over 175,000 vacancies posted on the CV-Library site, also reveal that while businesses are widening their talent pool by advertising more remote roles, it could potentially be costing them more to do so. In fact, the table below shows the top industries* with greater earning potential for remote work:
Industry |
Average salary in 2019 |
Average salary in 2019 for remote work |
Difference in earning potential |
|
Education |
£31,139 |
£69,175 |
120% |
|
Consultancy |
£41,198 |
£73,417 |
78.2% |
|
Graphic design |
£31,243 |
£52,296 |
67.4% |
|
Sales |
£32,234 |
£51,000 |
58.2% |
|
Engineering |
£36,129 |
£53,167 |
47.2% |
|
Electronics |
£38,204 |
£47,500 |
24.3% |
|
Construction |
£44,727 |
£53,490 |
19.6% |
|
IT/Technology |
£46,029 |
£55,000 |
19.5% |
|
Finance |
£34,139 |
£37,167 |
8.9% |
|
Customer service |
£22,351 |
£24,036 |
7.5% |
Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of CV-Library, comments on the findings:
“Our data shows that this trend has been booming right under our noses, as an increasing amount of businesses recognise the benefits of flexible working. In particular, we’re noticing a theme emerging across key industries, with remote roles being paid significantly more than office-based jobs.
“The fact is, remote work is no longer seen as a workplace perk, but rather a legitimate way of working. So, if employers want to widen their talent pool they’ll need to meet that request. While finances may be a concern, don’t forget that you'll be cutting down on other major costs if you expand your remote workforce, including office equipment and utilities!”
With over half of Brits (55.8%) claiming that flexible working is their most desirable workplace perk, various industries are tapping into this candidate market to advertise their remote vacancies. CV-Library's research reveals that the following made up the largest percentage of remote jobs on offer right now:
- Engineering - 2.4%
- Customer Service – 3.3%
- Technology - 71.2%
- Graphic Design – 2.8%
- Consultancy – 1.9%
Biggins concludes:
“Flexible working is changing the way that businesses operate, especially in the technology industry. 'So if you want to become a competitive employer, it might be worth considering remote working in order to attract a higher calibre of candidates'. Not only will your employees improve their work-life balance, you’ll find that productivity and overall employee retention rates increase within your company.”
