Survey highlights benefits of new ways of working.

 

While the push gets stronger for getting workers back into the office, a new study has found that employers across Australia are enjoying a bigger talent pool thanks to work from home arrangements.

 

 Analysis from the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) revealed that WFH helped various groups overcome barriers in participating in the labour market. 

 

This includes women with young children, who saw a nine-percentage point rise between 2019 and 2023 in workforce participation for jobs where they could work remotely.

 

This is also the case for people with disabilities or health conditions, who saw a 4.4-percentage-point increase in workforce participation for roles that allow work from home.

 

"Our results show employers now have access to a broader talent pool and potentially better skills matches thanks to these new ways of working," according to CEDA. 

 

"It also suggests the growth of WFH could be contributing to our historically high labour force participation rate and low unemployment," CEDA said.

 

The CEDA study has found more than a third of Australians are still working from home, defying a renewed push to get people back into the office post-pandemic.

 

Six months after the NSW government pushed for public servants to return to the office, the majority continue to not be affected by the directive.

 

It comes as workplaces around the country and world are navigating "striking the right balance" in their environment arrangements.

 

Woolworths takes ‘phased approach’

Supermarket giant Woolworths is taking a phased approach to office return that will see 10,000 employees onsite three days a week by October, according to reports.

 

A new policy from the supermarket giant revealed that employees are expected to be in-office at least once a week starting June 2.

 

PHOTO CREDIT: Office Furniture Direct.