Germany's Remote Work Returns to Its Pandemic Peak

(MENAFN) Remote work in Germany has rebounded to pandemic-era highs, with roughly one in four employees working from home in 2025 as global oil shortages and soaring fuel prices gave fresh impetus to the shift away from traditional office commuting, national statistics agency Destatis reported Wednesday.

Approximately 25 percent of Germany's workforce worked remotely last year, nudging up from 24 percent in 2024 and 23 percent in 2023 — nearly double the 13 percent recorded before the pandemic in 2019. While the overall share has climbed back to 2021 levels, the intensity of home working has eased considerably: just 24 percent of remote workers operated entirely from home in 2025, compared with 40 percent at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly half — 46 percent — of remote workers spent the majority of their time at the office.

Sector disparities remain pronounced. IT, business administration, and management consulting led all industries, with 74 percent of workers logging in remotely at least occasionally. By contrast, hospitality, landscaping, and retail reported the lowest rates, at 6, 7, and 10 percent respectively.

Workers aged 35–44 were the most likely demographic to work remotely at 30 percent, a pattern the report linked to work-life balance demands, while those aged 15–24 recorded the lowest rate at 10 percent, attributed largely to vocational training obligations.

Germany's 25 percent remote work rate edged above the EU average of 23 percent in 2025. The Netherlands topped the bloc at 52 percent, followed by Sweden at 45 percent and Luxembourg at 43 percent. Romania and Bulgaria reported the lowest rates in the EU at 4 percent each.

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