The Push To Get Highly Paid Employees Back To The Office May Be Stalling

Newly published data show that hybrid jobs — jobs that involve working partly from home, partly in the office — are making a comeback.

Ladders, a career site for jobs that pay $100,000 or more annually, has released a report showing that in the second quarter of 2024, 2.9% of all high-paying jobs — that is, those paying a quarter of a million dollars or more — were hybrid, up significantly from the 1% of such jobs in the first quarter of the year.

“To see these opportunities claw back a full percent is significant,” says John Mullinix, director of growth marketing at Ladders, who led the research. “It looks like companies that were mostly onsite before are now adopting hybrid setups to attract and retain top talent. They are finding a sweet spot with hybrid work which many believe offers the flexibility of remote work while preserving the collaborative and leadership benefits of being in the office.”

A SIGNIFICANT TURNAROUND FOR HIGH-PAYING HYBRID JOBS

Ladders‘ data has consistently shown the appeal to employees of hybrid and remote work, if not the availability of such jobs at high salaries. In its Q3 2022 Quarterly Remote Work report, Ladders found that 36% of professional jobs in the U.S. and Canada were now permanently remote — 11% more than predicted at the time.

Less than two years later, however, Ladders’ research showed remote jobs plummeting in Q1 of 2024 — only to claw back about 7% in Q2.

But the bigger story is hybrid jobs, in which employees spend some portion of the work week in the office. After studying nearly half a million job postings on its platform as well as high-paying job titles, career fields, and the companies with the most high-paying jobs available from April through June of 2024, Ladders found that hybrid roles reclaimed about 40% to rise to 3% of all high-paying jobs.

It’s not the same level of hybrid jobs that were available through much of 2023, Mullinix says. “When you consider that even with this quarter-over-quarter growth, we aren’t even close to the numbers we saw last year when there were double the remote and hybrid opportunities,” he says. But considering the free-fall those jobs had seemed to be in in the fourth quarter of 2023 nd the first quarter of 2024, it represents a significant turnaround.

For jobs paying $250,000 or more, what percentage of job listings in each quarter were in-person, remote, or hybrid? 

THE TOP JOB TITLES WITH THE MOST COMPETITION 

To determine the type of job openings with the most competition, Ladders divided the number of high-paying jobs in a particular field by the number of applications submitted within that field. High paying human resources, general management and marketing roles have the most competition. Candidates in healthcare, science and education, engineering, and legal jobs will face the least competition.

The research also showed most high-paying jobs require eight to 10 years of experience — but there are also a plethora of positions that require only five to seven years.

THE TOP 15 JOBS THAT PAY $250K OR MORE

1. Physician: These healthcare professionals diagnose and treat illnesses.

2. Medical Director: Medical Directors oversee clinical programs, manage healthcare teams, and ensure quality patient care delivery. Their leadership is crucial in healthcare settings, especially in hospitals and clinics.

3. Dentist: Dentists, including general dentists, associate dentists, and pediatric dentists, play a key role in maintaining oral health. This role is broken down into several specializations, reflecting the diverse nature of dental care.

4. Psychiatrist: Psychiatrists, including outpatient, interventional, and those specializing in TMS/Ketamine, are in high demand. Their mental health expertise is critical as mental health awareness increases.

5. Principal Software Engineer: Principal Software Engineers are senior technical experts who lead software development projects, design architecture, and mentor junior engineers. Their role is pivotal in tech-driven companies.

6. Chief Financial Officer: CFOs manage a company’s financial actions, including financial planning, risk management, and record-keeping. Their role is essential for the financial health of any organization.

7. Outside Sales Representative: Outside Sales Representatives sell products and services directly to clients, often working outside the office. Their ability to generate revenue makes them valuable to any sales-driven organization.

8. Relief Veterinarian: Veterinarians provide temporary veterinary services, filling in for regular vets at clinics. This flexibility is vital for maintaining consistent animal care.

9. Primary Care Physician: Primary Care Physicians serve as the first point of contact for patients, they manage general health concerns and make specialists referrals as needed. They play a critical role in preventative care.

10. Family Medicine Physician: Family Medicine Physicians provide comprehensive healthcare to individuals and families across all ages, genders, and diseases. They ensure care continuity.

11. Solar Sales Representative: These representatives sell solar energy systems and often work on commission. Their role is crucial in the growing renewable energy sector.

12. Market Manager: Market Managers oversee marketing strategies and campaigns for products or services. They play a key role in product positioning and revenue generation.

13. Attending Physician: Attending Physicians are senior doctors responsible for patient care in hospitals. They supervise residents and ensure high-quality medical care delivery.

14. Chief Operating Officer: COOs oversee a company’s daily operations to ensure the business runs smoothly and efficiently.

15. Enterprise Account Executive: Enterprise Account Executives manage relationships with large corporate clients to drive sales and revenue growth. Their expertise in client management is vital for long-term business success.

DON’T MISS THE FUTURE OF REMOTE WORK FOR MBAs AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS and REPORT: HIGH-PAYING REMOTE JOBS AREN’T DISAPPEARING JUST YET