Preferences and Objectives of Companies Regarding Remote Workspaces
News Article: Hybrid Work Models Here to Stay Post-COVID-19, According to ZEW Survey
The latest ZEW survey from June 2025 reveals a robust and sustained adoption of hybrid work models in both the manufacturing and information and communications industries. The findings suggest that remote working options are set to expand in the foreseeable future, rather than revert to pre-pandemic norms.
The survey, which involved around 1,200 companies, found that approximately 80% of companies in the information economy and around 50% in manufacturing currently offer at least one day of remote work per week. This rate is even higher among larger companies (100+ employees), with 88% in manufacturing and 98% in the information sector providing work-from-home (WFH) options.
Interestingly, only about 10% of companies with existing WFH models plan to reduce or stop these schemes, while a notably larger share intends to expand home office options. In the information sector, 29% plan to increase employees working remotely, and in manufacturing, 34% have similar intentions.
Even companies that currently expect employees to always work onsite are considering introducing remote work. For instance, 21% of information economy firms and 9% of manufacturing firms have such plans.
The pandemic has triggered a persistent shift to hybrid work, with firms generally seeing no significant negative impact on productivity from these models. The trend toward hybrid setups is thus likely to continue or grow over the next two years.
However, the survey also highlights some challenges associated with remote work. Two-thirds of the companies see disadvantages in the impact of home office on internal communication and teamwork. Companies tend to negatively assess the effects of home office on the productivity and innovation capabilities of employees. On the other hand, more than two-thirds of the surveyed companies see an advantage in hybrid working models.
Opinions are divided regarding employee retention, with nearly half of the surveyed companies seeing advantages, while around one-third expect disadvantages. More than half of the companies see advantages in the acquisition of skilled workers.
In the manufacturing sector, at least some employees worked from home at least once a week in about half of the companies in June. In the sector, 34% of companies expect an increase in employees working from home.
Despite these challenges, the survey indicates a significant, lasting transformation in workplace arrangements accelerated by the pandemic. The trend toward hybrid work is expected to continue, with plans to further integrate remote working options in the foreseeable future rather than a rollback to traditional office-only work.
[1] Data sourced from the ZEW survey conducted in June 2021.
Economic and social policy will likely focus on expanding remote work options in the future, as 98% of information sector companies and 88% of manufacturing companies with over 100 employees currently offer work-from-home (WFH) options. The survey also revealed that finance, technology, and business sectors are considering integrating remote work, with 21% of information economy firms and 9% of manufacturing firms planning to introduce it.
