The pandemic permanently reshaped how Europeans work, and new data from Eurostat and Statista, compiled by the global HR firm Remote, reveals which EU countries have embraced remote and hybrid models most enthusiastically. The Netherlands leads the pack by a significant margin, with nearly two-thirds of its workforce operating remotely at least part of the time in 2022.
According to the research, 65% of Dutch employees worked remotely or in a hybrid setup last year, far ahead of Luxembourg (54.4%) and Sweden (51.8%). The EU average stood at 30%, while the United Kingdom lagged at just over 15%. The figures reflect a broader shift that began with lockdowns in 2020 and has since become a permanent feature of many European labour markets.
Top 10 EU countries for remote work
The data, collected in August 2022, ranks the EU member states by the share of workers who regularly work from home. After the top three, the list continues with Ireland (47.6%), Belgium (46.8%), Finland (45.6%), Denmark (44.8%), Austria (43.2%), Germany (40.1%), and France (38.5%). These countries have all integrated remote work into their corporate cultures to a degree that sets them apart from the rest of the bloc.
Remote's analysis also offers projections for 2023, suggesting that the trend will deepen. The Netherlands is expected to see its remote workforce rise to 73.5%, Luxembourg to 60.6%, and Sweden to 56.4%. Ireland and Belgium are predicted to experience particularly sharp increases, reaching 61.6% and 56.1% respectively.
The Netherlands: a pioneer in remote work rights
The Dutch lead is not accidental. Even before the pandemic, 28% of Dutch employees worked remotely, one of the highest rates in the EU. In a landmark move last summer, the Dutch parliament approved legislation that makes working from home a legal right. Employers must now consider remote work requests and provide a clear justification if they refuse. This makes the Netherlands one of the first countries in the world to codify remote work flexibility into law.
The Dutch approach reflects a broader European trend towards flexible work arrangements, but the pace varies widely. While northern and western European countries have embraced remote work, southern and eastern member states have been slower to adopt it. For instance, Italy (28.4%) and Spain (27.6%) sit below the EU average, while Romania (12.5%) and Bulgaria (10.8%) have the lowest shares.
The rise of remote work has also intersected with other European debates, from urban planning to digital infrastructure. As more employees work from home, cities like Amsterdam and Stockholm are rethinking office space, while rural areas see new opportunities for economic development. The trend is also influencing cross-border commuting, particularly in regions like the Benelux, where workers can live in one country and work for a company in another.
For businesses, the shift presents both challenges and opportunities. Companies that offer flexible working arrangements are often more attractive to top talent, but they must also manage issues of collaboration, productivity, and employee well-being. The data from Remote suggests that the countries leading in remote work are also those with strong digital connectivity and a culture that values work-life balance.
As Europe continues to navigate the post-pandemic landscape, remote work is likely to remain a defining feature of the labour market. The Netherlands, with its legal framework and cultural openness, serves as a model for other nations. Whether the rest of Europe follows suit remains to be seen, but the evidence so far points to a continent that is increasingly comfortable with working from home.
