Flexible working has reshaped the Scottish labour market. What began as a necessity has evolved into a long-term structural shift in how organisations operate across Scotland. As businesses refine their working models, one question stands out: in Scotland, are remote roles or hybrid roles growing fastest?
For both employers and job seekers, understanding this trend is essential when making hiring or career decisions in 2026.
The State of Flexible Work in Scotland
Homeworking levels in Scotland remain significantly higher than they were before 2020, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. However, the structure of flexible work has matured.
Scottish employers are increasingly formalising two main models:
- Hybrid roles – Employees divide time between home and office.
- Fully remote roles – Employees work entirely from home or another remote location, with no regular office attendance required.
While both models are present across Scotland, their growth patterns differ.
Hybrid Roles: Leading Growth Across Scotland
Across most Scottish sectors, hybrid roles are expanding faster than fully remote positions.
Why Hybrid Is Dominating
1. A Balanced Approach for Employers
Scottish organisations often favour hybrid models because they allow businesses to maintain office presence while offering flexibility. This is particularly important in sectors where collaboration, training and client interaction are central.
2. Strong Adoption in Major Cities
Hybrid roles are especially common in cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow, where financial services, legal firms, professional services and public sector bodies remain key employers.
Many organisations headquartered in these cities have adopted structured hybrid policies, such as two or three office days per week.
3. Regional Workforce Considerations
Hybrid working allows employees living outside central urban areas — including parts of Fife, Ayrshire, and the Highlands — to reduce commuting frequency while still accessing city-based roles.
4. Public Sector Influence
Public sector employers, including bodies such as the Scottish Government, have implemented hybrid models rather than fully remote structures. Given the size of Scotland’s public sector workforce, this significantly influences overall job trends.
As a result, hybrid roles are currently the fastest-growing flexible working model across Scotland.
Fully Remote Roles: Growing in Targeted Industries
Fully remote jobs are increasing in Scotland, but growth is concentrated in specific sectors.
Sectors Driving Remote Growth
- Technology and software development
- Digital marketing and creative industries
- IT services and cybersecurity
- E-commerce and online operations
Edinburgh’s fintech and tech ecosystem, along with Glasgow’s digital and gaming sectors, continue to generate remote-first opportunities. However, these roles are proportionally smaller compared to hybrid listings across the wider economy.
Where Remote Growth Is Limited
Industries central to Scotland’s economy — including energy, construction, manufacturing, tourism and healthcare — require physical presence. Even office-based roles in these sectors often operate on hybrid rather than fully remote models.
What This Means for Job Seekers in Scotland
If you are searching for flexible work in Scotland, your strategy should reflect the realities of the market.
If you prefer fully remote roles:
Focus on digital-first sectors and ensure your CV demonstrates strong self-management, remote communication skills and technical capability.
If you are open to hybrid work:
You will access a broader and more stable range of opportunities, particularly in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Hybrid roles are currently more plentiful and widely adopted.
What This Means for Scottish Employers
For employers operating in Scotland, flexibility remains a competitive advantage.
Hybrid working provides:
- Talent attraction beyond immediate city centres
- Improved employee satisfaction
- Greater retention in competitive sectors
- Continued in-person collaboration when needed
Organisations that remove flexibility altogether risk narrowing their candidate pool, particularly in professional and technical roles.
Final Verdict: Hybrid Is Growing Fastest in Scotland
In Scotland’s current labour market:
- Hybrid roles are growing fastest overall, supported by widespread adoption across both private and public sectors.
- Fully remote roles continue to expand, but primarily within tech and digital industries.
The Scottish workforce is not returning to full-time office work, nor is it shifting entirely to remote-only structures. Instead, hybrid working has emerged as the dominant and fastest-growing model.
For candidates and employers alike, understanding this shift is key to staying competitive in Scotland’s evolving job market.