The trend of WFH (work from home) in India is far from concluding. Recent data from active white-collar job listings indicates that flexible work arrangements, which were once uncommon, have now become a prominent feature of the employment market.
Currently, approximately 23% of the 290,000 active job postings this month are offering full-time hybrid or fully remote work options, a significant increase from just 1% in January 2020, prior to the onset of Covid-19, which transformed the work environment.
Research compiled for ET by the staffing solutions firm Xpheno highlights this transformation: 77% of active white-collar job openings in India in January 2025 require full-time office attendance, a notable decrease from 99% in January 2020.
At present, around 12% of active listings provide full-time hybrid roles, while 11% are fully remote. In January 2020, only 1% of 244,800 active job listings included fully remote positions, and hybrid work was not an available option.
1 in 4 active job listings offer WFH (work from home) Remote options
Experts assert that this reflects a significant change in the corporate mindset in India since the pandemic, suggesting that flexibility in work arrangements is likely to persist, despite increasing pressure from certain companies and CEOs advocating for a return to the office. Notably, US President Donald Trump also signed an executive order to terminate remote work for federal employees shortly after his inauguration last week.
The era when a substantial salary alone could entice top talent has passed. According to Priyanka Gulati, partner in human capital consulting at Grant Thornton Bharat, providing flexible and hybrid work arrangements is now a fundamental component of recruitment and retention strategies rather than merely a desirable option.
She noted that an increasing number of organizations are promoting their flexible work policies to attract job seekers, a strategy that positively influences financial performance by enhancing productivity and reducing employee turnover.
Experts indicate that even firms listing full-time work-from-office positions are likely to offer greater flexibility to their employees than in the past. S. Venkatesh, president of group HR at RPG Enterprises, emphasized that candidates now expect this flexibility; failing to provide it could result in losing a significant portion of potential applicants.
In many organizations where a return to the office is being enforced, Venkatesh pointed out that such decisions often stem from the strong opinions of a single individual. While traditional companies may manage to maintain this approach, ultimately, “organizations that demonstrate flexibility and empathy towards employee needs will thrive,” he stated. “They will be viewed as more attractive employers and will draw in higher-quality talent.”
Kamal Karanth, the cofounder of Xpheno, emphasized that flexibility in work hours, location, and office attendance significantly enhances the appeal of job opportunities. He noted, “These elements are effective in attracting talent across various demographics, including age, job role, and experience level. Companies can also draw in specific niche groups of seasoned and specialized professionals by incorporating flexibility into their job offerings.”
\Particularly, Generation Z places a high premium on flexibility, a sentiment echoed by many women, as it facilitates a more harmonious balance between personal and professional commitments. Gulati remarked, “For women, who often manage both career obligations and caregiving duties, hybrid or remote work arrangements can be transformative, leading to increased participation and improved retention rates.”
Data from Xpheno regarding the distribution of active job listings across industries indicates that the software products sector provides the highest level of flexibility, with 60% of positions being full-time work-from-office, 18% remote, and 22% full-time hybrid. This is followed by the IT services sector, which has 77% of roles as full-time work-from-office, 9% remote, and 14% full-time hybrid.
In the hospitality sector, 97% of positions are full-time and work-from-office, likely due to the industry’s inherent characteristics. In contrast, the manufacturing and transport and logistics sectors report a full-time work-from-office rate of 88%. Notably, among the 16,000 active job postings from startups, 94% are full-time and work-from-office, even though this sector employs a significant number of young individuals.
Since the latter half of 2024, there has been a varied response to flexible working arrangements, according to Karanth. Nevertheless, he noted that “preliminary signs suggest that the distribution of work-from-office and flexible job opportunities will stabilize at an overall ratio of 80:20 for 2025.”
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