Coronavirus: Working from home on the wane for all but IT

Employees in many industries are returning to onsite work, in a shift in attitude from July.

New LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index data found 11 of the 12 surveyed industries polled had moved to onsite, or to hybrid models of work.

Employees in many industries are returning to onsite work, in a shift in attitude from July when they wanted to keep working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

New LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index data found 11 of the 12 surveyed industries polled had moved to onsite, or to hybrid models of work.

During June and July, almost 25 per cent of workers wanted to stay at home until they felt safer, while another quarter was tentative about returning to work.

Latest data shows retail, recreation and travel, energy and mining, and construction continued to work onsite throughout the lockdown.

Manufacturing, healthcare and education fell into the ­“remote now, onsite later” category, meaning they would progressively return to onsite work after lockdown.

Professional services, including media and communications, public administration, corporate services and finance, will pursue work options including a hybrid model, with some days in the ­office and some days at home.

LinkedIn Australia and New Zealand managing director Matt Tindale said software and information technology was the only surveyed industry that said ­“remote is here to stay”.

He said workers in entry level positions were the most concerned about exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace compared to those in senior positions.

More than one third of Australians in junior and entry level ­positions were concerned about exposure to others who do not take safety guidelines seriously in the workplace. Almost 19 per cent within this demographic feel forced to work in close proximity with other co-workers or customers.

The survey found job seekers were feeling a low level of confidence about their prospects, while the overall confidence of professionals was steadily ­improving. Unemployed Australians in a lower socio-economic position are reskilling by increasing their education qualifications during the pandemic.

Job seekers in a higher financial bracket are more likely to pivot their careers by starting their own businesses, moving to freelance or switching industries.

Mr Tindale said after a period of stagnation during the pandemic, employee confidence was starting to lift.

He said the level of concern among junior and entry level workers did initially surprise him,

“But then when you thought about it they are the ones that are most likely to be in those customer/public facing environments,” he said.