Is remote work obsolete in 2025? Here’s what the data really says

Post on June 10, 2025

The era of fully remote work may be winding down, but flexible and hybrid models have become the new standard. According to LinkedIn’s 2025 Workforce Confidence Index (link), full-time remote roles have declined since their 2020 peak, but hybrid work remains stable and is even gaining ground.

In Asia-Pacific, hybrid is the preferred norm

In Singapore, 71% of professionals prefer a hybrid setup, mirroring regional trends like 74% in Malaysia and 84% in Indonesia. Local government figures also show a rise in flexibility: 72.7% of companies now offer some form of hybrid or flexible work arrangements, up from 68% in 2023.

Across APAC, companies are adapting. A 2024 CBRE survey found that over 60% of firms report steady office attendance, with 70% expecting employees in the office at least three days a week. In Singapore, the average office attendance sits at 3.4 days per week, among the highest in Asia, yet still far from full-time.

Read more: The future of coworking in Singapore: 6 trends to look out for in 2025

There are merits to the hybrid model. APAC studies show that 83% of workers say hybrid work improves productivity, while 87% of business leaders now prioritise productivity over presenteeism. And the payoff is real: a landmark Nature study found that hybrid work reduced employee attrition (i.e. quit rates) by 33%, with no dip in output and productivity. Employees working from home two days a week were just as effective and promotable as those in the office full-time, and far less likely to quit.

But workplace strategy is about more than just numbers. Experts caution that hybrid work and fragmented schedules can erode culture, unless companies invest in intention, flexible spaces that foster collaboration, connection, and well-being. 

Where coworking fits in the new work era

This is where coworking platforms like workbuddy. Instead of choosing between working from home or committing to a traditional office lease, professionals now have a third, more flexible option.

With access to 50+ spaces across Singapore, ranging from CBD towers to creative hubs in Joo Chiat and Tiong Bahru, you get flexibility and variety without the cost of fixed leases. These spaces offer professional environments for team meetings, focused days, networking, and even wellness programming. Need a quiet pod for deep work today, a collaborative breakout space tomorrow, and a meeting room on Friday? You can have it all.

Coworking spaces also support mental wellbeing and work-life balance, offering more than just a desk. Many feature wellness programs, natural lighting, ergonomic setups, and curated events. According to Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower, 45% of workers now use their saved commute time for personal wellbeing, underlining how hybrid work has freed up calendar space for more mindful routines.

Read more: The best wellness-centric coworking spaces in Singapore

What this means for teams and companies

For employers, flexible workspace strategies are now a competitive advantage. With hybrid work entrenched across the region, companies are increasingly moving towards distributed staffing models, project-based teams and remote-friendly workflows.

Coworking spaces provide the agility to scale up or down as needed. With workbuddy’s team-friendly plans, for instance, you can combine hot desks, private offices, and team access – all available on demand under one flexible membership.

Whether you're a founder building your team, a freelancer who thrives on variety, or part of a regional team operating across time zones, workbuddy gives you the freedom to design your team’s ideal work week, without being tied to one location.

Read more: A flexible team plan perfect for hybrid and remote teams

Final thoughts

Remote work may never return to its pandemic peak, but the workplace is far from obsolete. Instead, hybrid models are evolving into a hardwired feature of our professional lives, and coworking spaces are emerging as a key infrastructure in the new world of work. Explore workbuddy’s network of hybrid-ready coworking spaces today. 

👉 Start your free trial or build a custom plan today.

This article is accurate as of 3 June 2025. Statistics and workplace trends are subject to change as new research emerges.