A new report highlights the barriers part-time employees face and how challenges can be overcome.
International Workplace Group (IWG), a company that specialises in offering flexible workplace solutions, has released a survey exploring the potential of hybrid working arrangements as a means of boosting productivity and encouraging skilled people to return to the workforce. The survey was conducted by Censuswide and included data from 2,000 globally dispersed current and former part-time employees.
The results are indicative of a landscape in which flexible and hybrid working models are breaking down barriers for people currently working and for those who aim to return to work.
44pc of former part-time workers said that flexibility has allowed them to reconsider re-entering the workforce, while almost half of currently employed part-time employees said they would seriously consider leaving their role if their flexible working arrangements were revoked.
The cost of the daily commute was shown to be a significant barrier for part-time employees and those looking to re-enter the workforce, as four out of 10 explained the rising cost of the commute was deterring them from going back to work. 44pc of those employed said it was getting tougher to financially justify staying in their current role.
40pc of part-time workers said they would leave the workforce entirely if required to commute to a city centre office every day they work and nearly one-third (31pc) of those who are now expected to commute to work each day said that they are actively looking for new employment.
Workplace productivity
Flexible working is popular for a number of reasons, for example, it can create a stronger work-life balance and allows people time to take care of other responsibilities. 45pc of contributors explained that part-time work actually enabled them to delay their retirement.
The IWG report quotes CSO figures which show that as of Q1 2025 there were more than 590,000 part-time workers making up 21pc of the total Irish workforce. This highlights the importance of addressing the challenges and barriers that can limit success for employees who require flexibility.
55pc of those surveyed by IWG said that they would return to the workforce if their company offered a flexible work day, while 57pc explained that they would also consider returning if local, flexible workspaces were made available. Six in 10 part-time workers even said they would consider boosting their hours if a flexible arrangement could be reached.
Mark Dixon, the CEO of International Workplace Group said, “High commuting costs combined with limited flexibility are a challenge for many part-time workers. By offering greater flexibility over how and where work is done, businesses can not only retain these valuable team members but also attract talented individuals back into the workforce. Given that part-time workers represent a significant proportion of the labour market, their impact on overall productivity is substantial.”
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