For the first time since the pandemic, Americans prefer hybrid over remote work—and it's not the free lunches driving the shift

For the first time since the pandemic began, more workers are saying they prefer hybrid work to working completely remote. The survey, conducted in January, found that among 6,625 U.S. adults—3,389 of whom were employed—23% said they would prefer to do most of their work remotely, compared to 27% who responded the same way in 2023. Meanwhile, 29% reported they preferred hybrid work, up from 25% the year before. The number of employees who preferred to work in person most of the time (46%) did not change.