1/ Today we look at long-run survey data on remote work, and the chart tells a clear story: how people work has changed permanently since 2019, even as some trends have recently stabilized.
2/ In the years before the pandemic, full-time remote work was relatively rare. In 2017 and 2019, only about 11–12% of respondents reported working fully remotely, while a much larger share worked mostly or fully on-site. Remote work existed, but it was not the norm.
3/ That picture changed sharply by 2022. Full-time remote work jumped to over 40% of respondents, reflecting the lasting impact of pandemic-era shifts in technology, workplace norms, and employer flexibility. At the same time, on-site work dropped to its lowest level in the series.
4/ Since 2022, however, the data suggest a period of adjustment rather than continued acceleration. The share of full-time remote workers has gradually declined, while hybrid work has remained remarkably stable at around 42–50%. This indicates that many organizations have settled into mixed arrangements instead of fully reversing course.
5/ Hybrid work stands out as the dominant long-term outcome. Rather than a simple return to offices or a full transition to remote-only work, the chart shows a consolidation around flexible models that combine remote and in-person time. This balance appears resilient across multiple years.
6/ On-site work has recovered somewhat since its 2022 low, but it remains well below pre-pandemic levels. That suggests the office is still important, but no longer the default for many workers.
7/ Overall, the chart shows that remote work was not a temporary shock. While full-time remote work has eased from its peak, flexible and hybrid arrangements have become a structural feature of modern work, reshaping how organizations plan, manage, and compete for talent.
Dataset
Data Sources
Stack Overflow (2017–2025). Stack Overflow Developer Survey: Remote Work and Work Environment Data. https://survey.stackoverflow.co/