In 2024, nearly 24% of all employed people in Germany worked from home at least occasionally – twice as many as before the pandemic (2019: 13%). This share has stabilised at this level since 2022, while hybrid models dominate everyday working life and fully remote arrangements are becoming less common. For HR professionals, these figures provide an important basis for decisions on remote work policies, employer branding and compliance.
What Is Remote Work? Definition and Distinctions
Telework vs. Home Office vs. Mobile Working
In everyday language, the terms telework (Telearbeit), home office and mobile working are often used interchangeably – but there are clear legal differences under German law.
Telework (Telearbeit) is legally defined: According to § 2 Para. 7 of the German Workplace Ordinance (Arbeitsstättenverordnung, ArbStättV), it refers to fixed screen workstations permanently set up by the employer in the employee's private home. This means: the employer bears the obligation to provide equipment (desk, laptop, ergonomic furniture), and the workspace is permanently configured for work.
Mobile working is location-flexible and less strictly regulated: employees can work from a café, on a train or at a client's premises. There is no fixed home workstation and no corresponding equipment obligations.
Home office is the colloquial umbrella term for both variants. In legal terms, home office corresponds to telework under the ArbStättV.
Legal Framework: § 2 ArbStättV
There is no statutory right to remote work in Germany (as of 2025). Employers can regulate telework arrangements by contract or works agreement (Betriebsvereinbarung). Where a genuine telework workstation is established within the meaning of the ArbStättV, strict requirements apply regarding equipment, data protection and occupational safety.
Remote Work in Germany – Current Figures 2024
Development of the Home Office Share Since 2019
The COVID-19 pandemic has permanently established remote work in Germany. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the trend is clear
Source: Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), Microcensus 2025
The level has stabilised since 2022. At the same time, usage intensity is shifting: in 2024, only 24% of home office users worked exclusively from home – in the pandemic year 2021, the figure was still 40% (Destatis, 2025). Hybrid models – combining office presence with home working – are now the norm.
A study by the ifo Institute (2023) shows: employees who use home office work from home an average of 1.4 days per week – placing Germany in the international middle field.
Industry Breakdown
The home office share varies considerably by sector:
Sources: Statista (2023), Destatis (2025)
These differences are structural: roles tied to a physical location (nursing, trades, hospitality) cannot be performed remotely. For HR professionals in knowledge-intensive industries, home office has become a baseline expectation rather than a perk.
Usage Intensity: How Many Days per Week?
According to the bidt study (Bavarian Research Institute for Digital Transformation, late 2024), home office usage declined slightly compared to 2023. The most pronounced drop was among employees with people management responsibility: at the end of 2023, 64% of this group used home office – by the end of 2024, only 50% did.
The share of those working from home multiple times per week fell among managers from 32% (2023) to 19% (2024). Among employees without people management responsibility, the share remained stable at around 15%.
Germany in EU Comparison
Germany sits slightly above the EU average. According to Destatis (2025), based on the EU Labour Force Survey:
Northern European countries have a significantly more developed remote working culture, supported by stronger digital infrastructure, a high-trust workplace culture, and in some cases statutory entitlements (e.g. Netherlands, Lithuania). For internationally operating companies, this comparison is relevant when designing cross-border remote work policies.
Current Trends: Return to Office in 2024?
In 2023 and 2024, major companies worldwide called their workforces back to the office – Amazon, Deutsche Bank and others made headlines with new attendance requirements. How strong is this trend in Germany?
The bidt study (2024) shows: a measurable decline in home office usage intensity is evident, but there is no wholesale return to office. The majority of employees (72%) whose roles permit home office in principle are satisfied with their employer's offering.
Home office also remains a strong argument in the job market: according to an analysis of 55 million online job postings (Bertelsmann Stiftung Jobmonitor, 2024), 17.6% of all job advertisements mentioned home office as an option – in 2019, the figure was just 3.7%. In IT roles, home office is near-standard: 62% of job postings for IT application consultants included it in 2023.
The trend is clear: fully remote arrangements are becoming less common, while hybrid models with 1–2 days working from home per week represent the new standard.
What Does This Mean for HR Professionals?
The statistics provide concrete guidance for strategic HR decisions:
1. Remote work policy as a competitive factor. According to a 2024 survey, home office options play an important role in employer selection for more than 80% of respondents (Statista, 2024). Any organisation looking to attract qualified talent must offer at least hybrid models – particularly in IT, administration and knowledge-intensive sectors.
2. Know your industry benchmark. Those recruiting in the IT sector compete against employers offering 3–5 days of remote work. HR professionals should align their offering with the sector benchmark and communicate clearly how many remote days are actually available.
3. Ensure legal compliance. For genuine telework under the ArbStättV: employers must set up the home workstation and check it for occupational safety requirements. Those offering only mobile working have fewer obligations – but should communicate this clearly to avoid misunderstandings.
4. Handle return-to-office transitions carefully. Recall initiatives can prompt resignation considerations, as recent reports have shown. Transparent communication and fair transition arrangements are key to maintaining trust.
5. Use productivity data. Studies on home office productivity show mixed results – slightly positive to slightly negative, depending on the role, quality of leadership and equipment. HR should gather its own data rather than following general trends. For a fair candidate experience: communicate remote work options transparently during the recruiting process.
A well-founded remote work strategy also strengthens employer branding – especially in a labour market where skilled professionals know their options and actively exercise them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Remote Work Statistics in Germany
How many people work from home in Germany?
According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), in 2024 nearly 24% of all employed persons worked from home at least occasionally. This level has been stable since 2022 (24%) and 2023 (23%). Before the pandemic, the share stood at just 13% in 2019.
What is the difference between telework and mobile working in Germany?
Under § 2 Para. 7 ArbStättV, telework refers to a fixed workstation permanently set up by the employer in the employee's home. The employer bears equipment obligations. Mobile working is location-flexible (café, train, on the road) and less strictly regulated. "Home office" is used colloquially to refer to both variants.
In which industries is home office most common?
IT services lead with around 75% (at least partially working from home), followed by administration and office-based roles (over 70%). In healthcare, the figure is only around 6%; in trades and manufacturing, it is near zero. The possibility of remote work depends heavily on the nature of the role.
How many home office days per week are typical in Germany?
An average of 1.4 days per week (ifo Institute, 2023). Fully remote work is becoming less common: in 2024, only 24% of home office users worked exclusively from home, compared with 40% in the pandemic year 2021 (Destatis, 2025). Hybrid models dominate.
How does Germany compare within the EU?
Germany, at 24%, sits just above the EU average of 23% (Destatis/Eurostat, 2025). The Netherlands (52%), Sweden (46%) and Luxembourg (43%) have the highest home office shares in the EU. Bulgaria (3%), Romania (4%) and Greece (8%) are at the lower end.
Is remote work legally regulated in Germany?
Yes. Telework is defined in § 2 Para. 7 of the Workplace Ordinance (ArbStättV) and is subject to clear equipment obligations on the part of the employer. However, there is no general statutory entitlement to home office in Germany (as of 2025). Employers can regulate home office arrangements by contract or works agreement.
Conclusion
Remote work in Germany is not a temporary trend – it is a permanently established model of work. Nearly 24% of all employed persons used it at least occasionally in 2024, with the share having stabilised following its pandemic-driven surge. Hybrid models dominate, fully remote arrangements are becoming rarer. Germany sits slightly above the EU average, but well behind the northern European frontrunners.
For HR professionals, the takeaway is clear: home office is now a baseline feature of a modern employer, not an optional benefit. A clear, fair and legally sound remote work policy is a competitive advantage in the competition for skilled talent.
Looking to assess and select candidates fairly and objectively in a digital recruiting environment? The Aivy platform supports HR teams with scientifically validated aptitude diagnostics – regardless of whether interviews take place remotely or in person. Learn more about objective talent assessment with Aivy.
Sources
- Federal Statistical Office (Destatis): Home office in 2024 similarly widespread as in the previous year, but used on fewer days. Press release, 2025.
- Bavarian Research Institute for Digital Transformation (bidt): Prevalence of home office and organisation of the working day, late 2024. 2024.
- Bertelsmann Stiftung / Jobmonitor: Employers attract skilled workers with growing home office offering. 2024.
- Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb): Home Office | Social Report 2024. 2024.https://www.bpb.de/kurz-knapp/zahlen-und-fakten/sozialbericht-2024/553149/homeoffice/
- Workplace Ordinance (ArbStättV), § 2 Para. 7. Federal Republic of Germany, current version.https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/arb_tt_v/
- ifo Institute Munich: Home office establishes itself in Germany at 1.4 days per week. Study, 2023.https://www.ifo.de/
- Statista: Home office and mobile working – an overview. 2023/2024.https://de.statista.com/themen/6093/homeoffice/
Make a better pre-selection — even before the first interview
In just a few minutes, Aivy shows you which candidates really fit the role. Beyond resumes based on strengths.
