Acceptance of increased homeworking in transport and logistics has plummeted according to government figures, with the sector now the most reluctant to embrace the working practice.
Office for National Statistics data showed the number of companies in the industry using or planning to use increased homeworking had fallen to 4.4%, compared to 14.6% when last surveyed in November 2025.
In contrast – and perhaps unsurprisingly – 40.6% of information and communication companies are using, or planning to use, increased homeworking over the coming months.
However, the low figure is at odds with allied sectors; 16.2% of manufacturers and 14.9% of retailers were more receptive of the idea.
And, as ParcelHero pointed out, even the accommodation and food service sector, which includes restaurants, pubs and hotels, continues to accept more homeworking than transport and logistics at 5.8%.
ParcelHero questioned whether this reluctance to continue with hybrid working practices was affecting recruitment levels in the industry:
“A total of 1.7% of transport and storage sector firms said they have had to pause trading entirely because of a worker shortage, as opposed to 0% of manufacturers, and 1.8% have had to pause some aspects of their business,” said head of consumer research David Jinks.
“2.5% have had to recruit temporary workers to cover the shortage and a high 8.6% of transport and storage firms reported being unable to meet demands because of their worker shortage.”
Asked for the reasons why businesses were not intending to adopt increased homeworking, top reasons included it not being suitable for the company, followed by difficulties managing staff remotely and a negative impact on working culture and concerns about integrating new staff into the workplace.
