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2023 Remote Working in Ireland Survey

Key Findings Report

Full Report: Published 13 Nov 2023

This report presents the findings from the 2023 Remote Working in Ireland survey and follows on from previous national surveys conducted in 2020, 2021 and April 2022. The data were collected from employees across a wide range of industries, sectors and occupations over a nine-day period at the end of September 2023. The research was led by Professor Alma McCarthy at University of Galway and Deirdre Frost, Policy Analyst at the Western Development Commission.

The 2023 national remote working in Ireland survey includes more detailed follow-up surveys involving a three-wave study examining additional employee level variables including well being, job satisfaction, self-reported productivity, and work-life balance.

The first wave of the 2023 survey opened 25th September 2023 and closed 3rd October 2023. This was an online survey on the Qualtrics platform with a self-selected sample and was open to anyone aged 18 years and over and living in Ireland. This Summary Findings Report presents headline findings from the first wave of data collection.

A total of 5,929 usable responses were received.

Key Findings

59% of respondents are currently working hybrid (sometimes remotely, sometimes onsite) and 38% are working fully remotely. 3% are working fully onsite.

For the 59% of respondents who are working hybrid, the following are the hybrid work patterns:

  • 20% work remotely 4 days and onsite 1 day a week
  • 35% work remotely 3 days and onsite 2 days a week
  • 24% work remotely 2 days and onsite 3 days a week
  • 6% work remotely 1 day and onsite 4 days a week
  • 14% work onsite 1-5 days a month and rest of the time remotely
  • 2% work onsite 6-10 days a month and rest of the time remotely

The most common days for working in the office or onsite are:

  • Tuesdays (43%)
  • Wednesdays (42%)
  • Thursdays (38%)

The vast majority (88.7%) of those working hybrid work remotely at home. A small portion work remotely from a mix of their home, hub and at client sites (7.9%).

92% of respondents indicated that remote / hybrid working would be a key factor in their decision to change employer.

In terms of current remote / hybrid working preferences:

  • 72% of respondents indicated that their preferences are being facilitated.
  • 23% of respondents indicated that their remote / hybrid working preferences were being facilitated to some extent, but they want to work remotely more often.
  • 3% indicated that their remote / hybrid working preferences are not being facilitated while 2% indicated they would like to work remotely less often than they do at present.

Respondents were asked if they would change job if their remote working / hybrid working preferences are not facilitated:

  • 44% indicated that they would change job even if it means a pay cut and 31% said maybe.
  • 22% said they would not change job if it meant a pay cut and 3% do not know.
  • 55% indicated that they would change job even if it means less promotion opportunities and 20% said maybe.
  • 22% indicated they would not change job if it means less promotion opportunities and 3% don’t know.
  • 47% indicated that they would change job even if it reduces their career opportunities and 22% said maybe. 28% said they would not change job if it reduces career opportunities and 3% do not know.

75% of respondents indicated that their employer has a remote / hybrid working policy.

Respondents were asked about relocating due to their experience of remote working since COVID-19:

  • 52% said they would not consider relocating.
  • 19% said they would consider relocating and 14.7% said they may consider relocating. The top 5 places respondents would move to are:

1. Outside of Ireland

2. Galway

3. Cork

4. Kerry

5. Wicklow

3.7% indicated that they have already relocated within Ireland since COVID19 because they can work remotely and 0.5% have relocated outside of Ireland. The top 5 counties they have relocated to in Ireland are:

1. Cork

2. Galway

3. Kildare

4. Mayo

5. Donegal

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of those who have already moved within Ireland relocated from Dublin.

Read the 2023 Remote Working Survey Full Report

National Remote Working Survey Infographics 2023

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Research Areas: