Recent data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reveal a continued, albeit evolving, presence of remote work in Germany following the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, approximately 24% of employed individuals utilized home office arrangements at least occasionally, a figure consistent with levels observed in 2023 (23%) and 2022 (24%). This represents a substantial shift from pre-pandemic norms, where only 13% of the workforce engaged in remote work in 2019.
However, the manner in which home office is utilized has changed. While remote work remains prevalent, its frequency has decreased compared to the peak pandemic years. In 2024, only 24% of home office users worked exclusively from home, a decline from 26% in 2023 and a high of 40% in 2021. Conversely, the proportion of employees working from home fewer than half the time has increased. Nearly half (46%) of those utilizing home office arrangements worked at their primary workplace as often or more frequently than from home in 2024, up from 44% in 2023 and 31% in 2021.
The prevalence of remote work is also notably correlated with commute distance. Employees whose workplaces are located 50 kilometers or more from their residences exhibited the highest adoption of home office, with 42% utilizing the option in 2024. This figure drops to 29% for those with commutes ranging from 25 to under 50 kilometers and falls to 14% for individuals whose workplaces are less than five kilometers away.
Significant increases in home office adoption have been observed among employees with longer commutes when compared to 2020. Among those living 50 kilometers or more from their workplace, the percentage utilizing home office rose by eight percentage points (to 34% in 2020). For those commuting 25 to under 50 kilometers, the rise was six percentage points (to 23% in 2020). This trend may reflect a growing willingness among employees to accept longer commutes, mitigating the impact through occasional remote work.
The prevalence of home office also varies across age groups, with the 35-44 age bracket demonstrating the highest rate of adoption (29%), followed by the 25-34 group (28%). This could be linked to the need for childcare support within these demographic segments. Younger workers (15-24 age group) report the lowest rates of home office utilization (11%).
In a European context, Germany’s rate of remote work in 2024 marginally exceeded the EU average. An average of 23% of employed individuals across the 27 EU member states worked remotely at least occasionally. The Netherlands, Sweden and Luxembourg demonstrated the highest rates, while Bulgaria, Romania and Greece reported the lowest.
