Two years ago, the answer was simple: candidates wanted remote. Now the picture is more nuanced — and employers who haven't updated their thinking are losing candidates to companies that have.
Here's what the data actually shows.
Fully remote is no longer the default preference. 54% of knowledge workers now prefer hybrid over fully remote. The reasons are consistent: collaboration, mentorship, and the blurred boundary between work and home.
But "hybrid" means different things to different people. "2 days in office" is very different from "we expect you in whenever leadership is around." Be specific in your job postings. Vague hybrid language is a red flag to experienced candidates.
What candidates actually want is autonomy. The underlying preference isn't about location — it's about control. Candidates want to choose where they work based on what they're doing that day, not based on a mandate.
For healthcare and field roles, this calculus is different. Clinical roles are inherently on-site. What candidates in these roles value most is predictable scheduling, adequate staffing ratios, and genuine support from leadership.
Switch4 helps employers write job descriptions that attract the right candidates by being honest and specific about work arrangements. Our recruiters pre-screen candidates on location preferences so you only meet people who are genuinely aligned.