Business Insights and Conditions in Scotland (wave 145): 11 December 2025

Homeworking

In November 2025, the BICS asked businesses about whether they are using or intend to use increased homeworking as a permanent business model going forward.

Figure 1: 12.0% of businesses are using or intend to use increased homeworking as a permanent business model, rising to 55.1% of businesses in the Information & Communication sector.

Increased homeworking as a permanent business model, by industry. Businesses not permanently stopped trading -with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 145 (17 November to 30 November 2025).

Source: BICS weighted Scotland estimates - data to Wave 145 from the Scottish Government. For Figure 1 data see table ‘WFHModel’.

Large businesses (250 or more employees) were more likely to be using or intending to use increased homeworking than small to medium-sized businesses (10 to 249 employees). An estimated 22.3% of large businesses were using or intending to use increased homeworking, compared to 10.8% of small to medium-sized businesses.

Around 4 out of 5 businesses (84.4%) that are using or intending to use increased homeworking are doing it because it improves staff wellbeing, this was the most common reason given by such businesses.

Around 6 out of 10 businesses (63.9%) are not using or intending to use increased home working as a permanent businesses model going forward, with 81.7% of these businesses reporting that homeworking is not suitable for their business.