Younger people increasingly willing to give up remote work for secure work, study suggests

New data from over two million job seekers suggests that younger people are becoming less focused on remote work options as they face a more competitive jobs market. The latest Work Index from Flexa, which tracks workplace preferences based on real-time job search behaviour, found that Gen Z candidates (aged 16 to 28) are now the least likely age group to seek remote-first roles. In March 2025, just 24 percent of Gen Z job seekers expressed a preference for fully remote positions, compared to 35 percent of Gen X (aged 45 to 60).

The report, based on user data collected between January and March 2025, suggests that economic uncertainty and falling job vacancies may be reshaping priorities. According to Flexa, 12 percent fewer Gen Z job seekers listed location flexibility as a key preference in March compared to the start of the year, even as demand for such flexibility rose among other age groups.

The findings come as official figures show the number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) has reached an 11-year high. At the same time, job vacancies in the UK fell to their lowest level in nearly four years, amid rising business costs and new employer tax burdens.

Expectations for other flexible work arrangements appear to be softening as well. Interest in four-day work weeks has declined across all age groups. Just 27 percent of job seekers wanted a four-day week in March, down from 39 percent a year earlier—a drop of 43 percent over 12 months. Flexa attributes this shift to employers rolling back benefits in response to rising costs and reduced hiring activity.

One area where demand is growing, however, is for mental health support. In March, nearly two-fifths (37 percent) of all job seekers said they were actively looking for roles that offer mental health support, up from 33 percent in January. Interest has increased across all age groups except Boomers (aged 61 to 79), where demand held steady at 22 percent.

Molly Johnson-Jones, CEO and co-founder of Flexa, said the findings highlight a shift in priorities driven by job market pressures.

“Younger workers are often seen as the strongest advocates for remote work, but the data suggests that they’re now the most willing to give it up to secure employment,” she said. “At the same time, rising interest in mental health support points to the emotional toll this competition is taking on job seekers.”

The latest Work Index is Flexa’s largest to date and draws on aggregated behavioural data rather than survey responses, providing a real-time snapshot of how worker preferences are changing in response to external pressures.