The work-from-home boom is losing steam, and the gender pay gap isn’t budging, according to fresh data from Indeed released on March 20, 2025. The job platform’s latest analysis paints a shifting picture of the labor market—one where remote opportunities are shrinking and longstanding wage disparities persist.
Remote Work’s Decline
Indeed found that remote job listings have fallen by 20% over the past year, a sharp reversal from their pandemic-era peak. In 2022, remote roles made up 10% of postings on the site; now, they’re down to 8%. Employers are pulling back, with only 4% of new listings in early 2025 offering full remote flexibility—half the rate from two years ago. The shift reflects a broader push to get workers back into offices, though hybrid setups (part-time remote) still hold steady at 6% of postings. Job seekers, meanwhile, aren’t letting go so easily: 35% of searches on Indeed still target remote gigs, showing a disconnect between what’s available and what people want.
Indeed found that remote job listings have fallen by 20% over the past year, a sharp reversal from their pandemic-era peak. In 2022, remote roles made up 10% of postings on the site; now, they’re down to 8%. Employers are pulling back, with only 4% of new listings in early 2025 offering full remote flexibility—half the rate from two years ago. The shift reflects a broader push to get workers back into offices, though hybrid setups (part-time remote) still hold steady at 6% of postings. Job seekers, meanwhile, aren’t letting go so easily: 35% of searches on Indeed still target remote gigs, showing a disconnect between what’s available and what people want.
Gender Pay Gap Stalls
On the equity front, progress is at a standstill. Indeed’s wage data, drawn from millions of job postings and user inputs, shows the gender pay gap hovering at 17%—unchanged from 2024. Women earn 83 cents for every dollar men make across similar roles, a figure that’s barely moved in five years. Remote work’s decline might play a role: women have historically leaned on flexible arrangements to balance caregiving, and fewer options could widen disparities in high-paying fields like tech (where remote postings dropped from 25% to 18%). Men, meanwhile, dominate in-person sectors like construction, which saw a 10% uptick in listings.
On the equity front, progress is at a standstill. Indeed’s wage data, drawn from millions of job postings and user inputs, shows the gender pay gap hovering at 17%—unchanged from 2024. Women earn 83 cents for every dollar men make across similar roles, a figure that’s barely moved in five years. Remote work’s decline might play a role: women have historically leaned on flexible arrangements to balance caregiving, and fewer options could widen disparities in high-paying fields like tech (where remote postings dropped from 25% to 18%). Men, meanwhile, dominate in-person sectors like construction, which saw a 10% uptick in listings.
What’s Driving the Trends?
Economists point to a cooling job market and employer leverage. With unemployment ticking up to 4.2% (per recent BLS stats), companies feel less pressure to dangle remote perks. At the same time, inflation’s bite—down to 2.5% but still felt—hasn’t spurred the wage growth needed to close gender gaps. Indeed’s report also flags a cultural lag: despite 60% of workers saying flexibility matters, only 20% of employers prioritize it in 2025 hiring plans.
Economists point to a cooling job market and employer leverage. With unemployment ticking up to 4.2% (per recent BLS stats), companies feel less pressure to dangle remote perks. At the same time, inflation’s bite—down to 2.5% but still felt—hasn’t spurred the wage growth needed to close gender gaps. Indeed’s report also flags a cultural lag: despite 60% of workers saying flexibility matters, only 20% of employers prioritize it in 2025 hiring plans.
The Bigger Picture
The findings signal challenges ahead. Remote work’s retreat could hit women harder, especially in industries slow to adapt, while the stagnant pay gap underscores deeper systemic issues—think negotiation norms or occupational segregation. For now, job seekers chasing remote roles might need to pivot to hybrid or brace for stiffer competition. And on pay equity? The wait for change continues.
The findings signal challenges ahead. Remote work’s retreat could hit women harder, especially in industries slow to adapt, while the stagnant pay gap underscores deeper systemic issues—think negotiation norms or occupational segregation. For now, job seekers chasing remote roles might need to pivot to hybrid or brace for stiffer competition. And on pay equity? The wait for change continues.