Almost 25% Of Germans Work From Home, Survey Finds

A recent survey by the ifo Institute reveals that working from home remains a stable fixture in Germany’s labor market, with 24.5% of employees telecommuting at least part-time in February 2025. This figure marks a slight increase from 23.4% in August 2024, underscoring the popularity of remote work. “We see no evidence in the data that working from home is on the decline,” noted ifo researcher Jean-Victor Alipour, highlighting that the rate has remained largely consistent since April 2022.

The survey, part of the ifo Business Survey, shows significant variation across industries. Service sector employees lead the way, with 34.3% working remotely, followed by manufacturing at 16.9% and trade at 12.5%. The construction industry trails far behind, with only 4.6% of workers telecommuting. “Working from home has become firmly established,” Alipour said, dismissing isolated corporate efforts to mandate office returns as statistically insignificant.

The findings align with broader research trends. In the United States, some companies facing economic challenges have curtailed remote work, not necessarily to boost performance but to prompt voluntary staff departures. However, Alipour pointed to studies showing hybrid models—where office days are strategically coordinated—can enhance productivity through improved face-to-face collaboration without slashing remote work overall. While this reduces employee flexibility, it maintains the prevalence of work from home arrangements.

Germany’s workforce appears to have embraced a new normal, with remote work showing no signs of fading.