Are Remote Jobs in Tech Declining?

There’s been quite a debate lately about the future of remote work. Although millions of tech professionals grew used to remote work during the pandemic, and a sizable percentage of them have expressed a preference for a hybrid schedule (i.e., a few days per week in the office), a rising number of employers want their employees back at their office desks full-time.

The latest Jobs Report from CompTIA breaks down the current state of remote tech job postings, and there’s some good news in there for those who like working five days per week from their living-room couch: the number of remote tech job postings for major positions such as software developer seem relatively stable (even if they’re nowhere near their mid-pandemic heights). Check out the chart:

Some tech giants have been aggressive about cutting back on remote work, most notably Amazon, which recently announced that all employees would need to return to the office (RTO) five days a week. However, such moves can prove unpopular with employees. “RTO blanket policy is crazy, particularly for those of us who were hired remote and FAR from an office. I have kids and family here so unwilling to relocate,” one anonymous Amazon employee said on Blind, which surveys anonymous tech professionals on a wide range of issues. “Even if I didn’t there’s too great a risk I’d be laid off in 6 months anyway so why risk a move?”

For smaller companies desperate to attract tech talent, offering hybrid and remote work can be an enticing perk. But if your company doesn’t offer either option, you may need to negotiate. Here are some tips:

Hybrid work offers a balanced approach, combining the benefits of in-office and remote work. Here's a step-by-step guide to negotiating a hybrid work arrangement:

Negotiating fully remote work can be more challenging, especially if your company has a strict return-to-office policy. However, with a well-crafted strategy, it's still achievable: