Africa’s changing workforce is shifting the demand for the hybrid model

The Hybrid working model has become increasingly popular across the South Africa and Africa, and for good reason. Although they’ve long been a workspace of choice for entrepreneurs and freelancers, more small-to-medium sized businesses and corporations are also starting to move into a hybrid style of working. Regus are trusted by thousands of enterprise customers worldwide and 83% of the Fortune 500 use our services and continue to plan for their workplaces to become primarily hybrid.

Enterprises in South Africa are transitioning to remote or hybrid work models to reduce office space costs and enhance employee well-being, leading to improved organisational performance. Hybrid work positively impacts physical, mental, and emotional health whilst offering a significant impact on profits. It also helps reduce the carbon footprint, as 86% of journeys are made by car, contributing to 3.2 tonnes of CO2 per person annually. Hybrid working is better for People, Planet and Profits bringing a place to work into the heart of local communities, saving businesses money and supporting 6 of the UN Sustainable development goals

When enterprises were asked about the future model of their workplace, just 4 per cent said that they planned to remain partly remote. In the coming years, many enterprises will continue to use a hybrid workplace model, with some work taking place remotely or at home and other work being done at the HQ or a close to home co-working space.

In South Africa it was found that physical presence at the workplace was significant. The impact of the economic downturn has had an immense impact on African enterprises, especially for companies not traditionally designed to operate digitally flawlessly. Others place great emphasis on particular parts of the business process, such as training, mentorship and orientation.

While hybrid workplaces are set to increase across Africa, enterprises in some countries seem likelier to do so than others. The research suggests that Nigeria leads the way, with some 56 per cent of enterprises planning a hybrid work model. Mozambique may also see a significant share of hybrid workplaces, with 49 per cent of enterprises planning to use this model.

One Manager in Uganda said that human connection was a fundamental part of their work. “Our business is about interaction, meeting face to face, creating relationships. It's something we can't take away from our products." Certain parts of the business are more effective in person, which can be handled from any co-working space closest to the employees home or at the HQ when necessary. ​

There is much to be gained from the serendipitous interactions in the corridor and other things you can't recreate online. It is sometimes more productive to deal with issues instantly and in person and a Regus centre close to home allows for ​ a variety of spaces to do just that.

With long commutes increasingly a thing of the past and hybrid working now standard for up to 40% of all workers, the research suggests there has also been a surge in the workforce of commuter towns as hybrid working allows people to work closer to home, Local economies are set for a boost as hybrid workers could rise by up to 175% in local towns.

Demand for co-working spaces to rise

Technology empowers white-collar workers to do their jobs productively no matter where they are. Locations with historically larger white-collar commuter populations and fewer local white-collar jobs are set to benefit the most, as workers recognise that they are able to work closer to home and from local workspaces without the long commute – ultimately further increasing local spending in Suburbs, dormitory towns and rural communities.

Hybrid working allows employees to choose where and how they work, which workers highly value. Previous research by IWG - Regus’s parent company - ​ found that 72% of hybrid workers said they would only consider new jobs and roles that allowed them to base themselves at workspaces closer to home for part of the week.

Mark Dixon, CEO and founder of IWG commented, “The hybrid migration is one of the most important forces at play in the world today as workers increasingly embrace the opportunity to work locally, bringing significant opportunities to the economies of local communities as well as creating a better work-life balance for employees.

Hybrid working is radically reshaping the geography of work. This latest research highlights that it has a profound and lasting impact on the make-up of communities and the geography of towns and cities.

Suburbs, smaller towns and rural communities everywhere are being revitalised, and this trend will continue to accelerate over the coming years.

About IWG - Parent company of Regus

IWG is leading the workspace revolution. Our companies help millions of people and their businesses to work more productively. We do so by providing a choice of professional, inspiring and collaborative workspaces, communities and services. Digitalization and new technologies are transforming the world of work. People want the personal productivity benefits of living and working how and where they want.

Businesses want financial and strategic benefits. Our customers are start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and large multinationals with unique business goals, people and aspirations. They want workspaces and communities to match their needs. They want a choice.

Through our companies, we provide that choice and serve the whole world of work: Regus, Spaces, No18, Basepoint, Open Office and Signature. We create personal, financial, and strategic value for businesses of every size, from some of the most exciting companies and well-known organizations on the planet to individuals and the next generation of industry leaders. They all harness the power of flexible working to increase their productivity, efficiency, agility, and market proximity.

Join us at www.iwgplc.com.