A recent study conducted by researchers at Lancaster University warns that the decreasing number of remote job opportunities poses significant risks to disabled individuals in the workforce. The research highlights that over 80% of working-age disabled respondents regard access to home working as essential or very important when searching for employment. This underscores the need for inclusive job opportunities that accommodate various disabilities, particularly as many disabled individuals were empowered to work from home during the pandemic.

Almost half of the participants, specifically 46%, expressed a desire to work remotely on a full-time basis, revealing a notable preference among disabled women and caregivers for complete home working arrangements. However, the findings show a concerning trend, as employers are increasingly moving away from hybrid and remote working models. The study’s analysis of job advertisement data from Adzuna indicated a stark decline in fully remote job postings, with only 4.3% of job ads in the 2024-25 financial year being for fully remote positions— a marked decrease from 8.7% during the peak of the pandemic in 2020-21.

The implications of these findings suggest that the government's efforts to reduce unemployment might be hindered by this shift away from remote work. With a significant portion of the disabled workforce relying on remote job prospects, the trend of limiting such opportunities could exacerbate the challenges faced by disabled individuals in securing employment. Policymakers and employers are urged to rethink their approach to remote work to ensure inclusivity and support for all job seekers, particularly those with disabilities.