I spotted a couple of data points related to work of note.
A recent study has found that companies with higher levels of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic have seen a significant increase in employee startups. Researchers from Hong Kong University, the University of Notre Dame, the University of California, San Diego, and the University of Toronto estimate that at least 11.6 percent of the post-pandemic rise in new business formations can be attributed to this phenomenon. The study, titled “Entrepreneurial Spawning From Remote Work,” analyzed data from LinkedIn and other sources to track transitions from employment to entrepreneurship. While remote work has helped some employees to explore business opportunities without the risk of losing their income, it has also raised concerns for employers about losing key talent to new ventures.
A new study by Flatworld Solutions reveals that remote work in the United States is gaining significant momentum in 2025, despite major corporations reinstating return-to-office mandates. The research indicates that telework adoption has increased from 19.9% in October 2022 to 23.6% in January 2025, reflecting an 18.6% rise. Notably, the District of Columbia leads the nation with a 56.5% remote work adoption rate, while Mississippi sits at just 4.7%. The report highlights demographic trends, with individuals aged 35 to 44 averaging a telework rate of 28.1%, and those 65 and older experiencing the largest growth in remote work. Additionally, the study identifies that computer and mathematical jobs lead telework rates at 69.9%, with the professional and technical services industry at the forefront, achieving a 56.3% adoption rate. As companies adapt to these changes, the emergence of Global Capability Centers is becoming a pivotal trend, enabling firms to tap into global talent pools. However, challenges remain, as 42% of companies enforcing return-to-office policies report higher employee attrition rates.
A recent study by Randstad reveals that nearly half of IT workers in the United Kingdom have left their jobs due to a lack of workplace flexibility, with 40% citing inflexible work options as a primary reason for their departure. The research underscores the growing importance of flexible working arrangements, showing that 80% of surveyed IT professionals consider flexibility essential, a figure that is 13% higher than workers in other sectors. Moreover, the study indicates that more than half of IT professionals—56%—would quit if their requests for additional flexible work options were ignored. Randstad’s digital chief executive, Graig Paglieri, emphasizes that personalized work benefits are crucial not only for attracting talent but also for retaining it in a competitive market. This trend reflects the ongoing shift in worker demands, especially as flexible work options have become more prominent since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Why do we care?
Despite the perception of a “return-to-office” wave, the Flatworld Solutions data shows an 18.6% increase in telework between late 2022 and early 2025. For IT services, this translates to continued demand for tools, platforms, and managed services that support distributed teams, especially in areas with high telework penetration like professional services and computer/math-heavy roles.
The entrepreneurship study suggests that over 11% of the rise in new businesses stems from remote-enabled “entrepreneurial spawning.” For employers, particularly in IT where skills are highly portable, this is a talent risk. But for service providers, this signals a swelling addressable market of startups and small teams needing IT services without building in-house teams. IT services firms that misread these shifts risk losing both staff and clients. But those that align with the data—flexible models, startup-friendly services, global talent strategies—stand to gain competitive advantage in a fragmented but growing market.