GITNUXREPORT 2025

Remote And Hybrid Work In The Retail Industry Statistics

Retail industry adopts hybrid work; boosts productivity, engagement, and cost savings.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

45% of retail managers report improved work-life balance due to hybrid work options

Statistic 2

35% of retail employees prefer hybrid work models over fully in-person setups

Statistic 3

57% of retail executives believe remote work improves employee productivity

Statistic 4

52% of retail workers report feeling more engaged when given flexible working options

Statistic 5

41% of retail employees work remotely at least once a week

Statistic 6

21% of retail managers report challenges in managing remote teams

Statistic 7

38% of retail employees cite the ability to work remotely as a key factor in job satisfaction

Statistic 8

42% of retail staff say remote work options have improved job loyalty

Statistic 9

27% of retail employees work remotely more than 3 days a week

Statistic 10

30% of retail brands have introduced remote work stipends or allowances

Statistic 11

37% of retail employees feel that remote work reduces commute time significantly

Statistic 12

13% of retail employees prefer full-time remote work over hybrid or in-person

Statistic 13

49% of retail companies report training challenges related to remote workforce development

Statistic 14

32% of retail workforces experienced increased burnout due to remote work pressures

Statistic 15

44% of retail companies are considering changing their remote policies based on employee feedback

Statistic 16

20% of retail employees reported increased mental health concerns linked to remote work in 2023

Statistic 17

21% of retail employees report feeling isolated working remotely

Statistic 18

24% of retail organizations have experienced challenges with remote onboarding processes

Statistic 19

22% of retail employees have taken on new skills development remotely

Statistic 20

26% of retail employees report that remote work has improved their overall job satisfaction

Statistic 21

31% of retail employees say remote work has improved their work-life balance significantly

Statistic 22

42% of retail employees experience challenges with remote collaboration due to technical issues

Statistic 23

25% of retail organizations report increased employee turnover related to remote work dissatisfaction

Statistic 24

37% of retail executives believe future growth depends on effectively managing remote and hybrid teams

Statistic 25

29% of retail customer service roles are now remote

Statistic 26

47% of retail firms have implemented hybrid meeting policies

Statistic 27

33% of retail employees have taken on additional online responsibilities with remote work

Statistic 28

49% of retail companies report cost savings due to remote working setups

Statistic 29

22% of retail in-store staff have hybrid roles combining in-store and remote tasks

Statistic 30

53% of retail companies have seen increased retention rates due to flexible remote work policies

Statistic 31

25% of retail sales roles transitioned to remote positions during COVID-19 recovery

Statistic 32

40% of retail store managers have adopted hybrid supervision models to better manage teams

Statistic 33

46% of retail professionals have utilized virtual reality for remote training purposes

Statistic 34

29% of retail customer feedback channels are managed remotely

Statistic 35

51% of retail companies report improved communication with remote teams using digital tools

Statistic 36

53% of retail companies increased their use of AI and automation to support remote service delivery

Statistic 37

50% of retail firms report that remote work has contributed to a more diverse workforce

Statistic 38

62% of retail companies use virtual reality or augmented reality tools for remote product training

Statistic 39

69% of retail companies report that remote work has helped reduce operational costs

Statistic 40

44% of retail employees state that remote work has increased their productivity

Statistic 41

60% of retail companies increased their investment in digital collaboration tools in 2023

Statistic 42

58% of retail firms invest in cybersecurity to support remote working infrastructure

Statistic 43

49% of retail firms are investing in remote work infrastructure, such as VPNs and collaboration tools, in 2023

Statistic 44

23% of retail employees worked remotely at least some of the time in 2023

Statistic 45

18% of retail stores have adopted entirely remote work for corporate functions

Statistic 46

48% of retail companies plan to expand work-from-home policies over the next year

Statistic 47

64% of retail companies consider remote work as a future strategic priority

Statistic 48

56% of retail HR leaders expect remote work to influence future hiring practices

Statistic 49

64% of retail companies use virtual onboarding for remote staff

Statistic 50

19% of retail teams conducted remote brainstorming sessions regularly in 2023

Statistic 51

67% of retail companies report increased use of cloud collaboration platforms in 2023

Statistic 52

15% of retail firms have adopted fully remote executive leadership teams

Statistic 53

39% of retail companies have implemented hybrid work policies for their corporate offices

Statistic 54

35% of retail organizations plan to replace some in-office roles with remote work within the next two years

Statistic 55

63% of retail brands have increased digital communication channels to support remote teams

Statistic 56

17% of retail employees have leveraged virtual collaboration tools for project management

Statistic 57

44% of retail companies are exploring hybrid work models to enhance customer engagement

Statistic 58

39% of retail firms offer flexible working hours as part of their remote policies

Statistic 59

28% of retail management roles are now conducted remotely

Statistic 60

34% of retail firms have adopted a formal remote work policy to standardize practices

Statistic 61

53% of retail firms are considering permanent remote work options for key roles

Statistic 62

18% of retail employees work entirely remotely

Statistic 63

Retail startups with hybrid working models saw a 12% faster growth rate in 2023

Statistic 64

36% of retail store locations plan to adopt hybrid operational models in the near future

Statistic 65

55% of retail businesses plan to increase their hybrid workforce in the next year

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Sources

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Key Highlights

23% of retail employees worked remotely at least some of the time in 2023
45% of retail managers report improved work-life balance due to hybrid work options
60% of retail companies increased their investment in digital collaboration tools in 2023
35% of retail employees prefer hybrid work models over fully in-person setups
57% of retail executives believe remote work improves employee productivity
18% of retail stores have adopted entirely remote work for corporate functions
Retail startups with hybrid working models saw a 12% faster growth rate in 2023
52% of retail workers report feeling more engaged when given flexible working options
48% of retail companies plan to expand work-from-home policies over the next year
29% of retail customer service roles are now remote
41% of retail employees work remotely at least once a week
21% of retail managers report challenges in managing remote teams
38% of retail employees cite the ability to work remotely as a key factor in job satisfaction

The retail industry is rapidly transforming as increasingly flexible remote and hybrid work models boost employee satisfaction, accelerate growth, and reshape the way companies connect with customers in 2023.

Employee Challenges and Perceptions

45% of retail managers report improved work-life balance due to hybrid work options
35% of retail employees prefer hybrid work models over fully in-person setups
57% of retail executives believe remote work improves employee productivity
52% of retail workers report feeling more engaged when given flexible working options
41% of retail employees work remotely at least once a week
21% of retail managers report challenges in managing remote teams
38% of retail employees cite the ability to work remotely as a key factor in job satisfaction
42% of retail staff say remote work options have improved job loyalty
27% of retail employees work remotely more than 3 days a week
30% of retail brands have introduced remote work stipends or allowances
37% of retail employees feel that remote work reduces commute time significantly
13% of retail employees prefer full-time remote work over hybrid or in-person
49% of retail companies report training challenges related to remote workforce development
32% of retail workforces experienced increased burnout due to remote work pressures
44% of retail companies are considering changing their remote policies based on employee feedback
20% of retail employees reported increased mental health concerns linked to remote work in 2023
21% of retail employees report feeling isolated working remotely
24% of retail organizations have experienced challenges with remote onboarding processes
22% of retail employees have taken on new skills development remotely
26% of retail employees report that remote work has improved their overall job satisfaction
31% of retail employees say remote work has improved their work-life balance significantly
42% of retail employees experience challenges with remote collaboration due to technical issues
25% of retail organizations report increased employee turnover related to remote work dissatisfaction
37% of retail executives believe future growth depends on effectively managing remote and hybrid teams

Employee Challenges and Perceptions Interpretation

While remote and hybrid work models are boosting retail managers’ work-life balance and employee engagement, the emerging evidence suggests that balancing productivity, mental health, and effective team management remains a tightrope walk that could determine the industry's future growth trajectory.

Impact of Remote Work on Retail Operations

29% of retail customer service roles are now remote
47% of retail firms have implemented hybrid meeting policies
33% of retail employees have taken on additional online responsibilities with remote work
49% of retail companies report cost savings due to remote working setups
22% of retail in-store staff have hybrid roles combining in-store and remote tasks
53% of retail companies have seen increased retention rates due to flexible remote work policies
25% of retail sales roles transitioned to remote positions during COVID-19 recovery
40% of retail store managers have adopted hybrid supervision models to better manage teams
46% of retail professionals have utilized virtual reality for remote training purposes
29% of retail customer feedback channels are managed remotely
51% of retail companies report improved communication with remote teams using digital tools
53% of retail companies increased their use of AI and automation to support remote service delivery
50% of retail firms report that remote work has contributed to a more diverse workforce
62% of retail companies use virtual reality or augmented reality tools for remote product training
69% of retail companies report that remote work has helped reduce operational costs
44% of retail employees state that remote work has increased their productivity

Impact of Remote Work on Retail Operations Interpretation

As retail reshapes itself into a flexible frontier, over half the industry attests that remote and hybrid work not only cuts costs and boosts productivity but also paints a brighter, more diverse future—proof that even amidst the aisles, innovation is checkout-ready.

Investment in Remote Work Infrastructure

60% of retail companies increased their investment in digital collaboration tools in 2023
58% of retail firms invest in cybersecurity to support remote working infrastructure
49% of retail firms are investing in remote work infrastructure, such as VPNs and collaboration tools, in 2023

Investment in Remote Work Infrastructure Interpretation

With nearly half of retail firms bolstering their remote work infrastructure and over half boosting cybersecurity, it's clear that retail industry’s digital shift isn’t just a trend—it’s a strategic move to stay competitive in a virtual-first marketplace.

Remote Work Adoption and Preferences

23% of retail employees worked remotely at least some of the time in 2023
18% of retail stores have adopted entirely remote work for corporate functions
48% of retail companies plan to expand work-from-home policies over the next year
64% of retail companies consider remote work as a future strategic priority
56% of retail HR leaders expect remote work to influence future hiring practices
64% of retail companies use virtual onboarding for remote staff
19% of retail teams conducted remote brainstorming sessions regularly in 2023
67% of retail companies report increased use of cloud collaboration platforms in 2023
15% of retail firms have adopted fully remote executive leadership teams
39% of retail companies have implemented hybrid work policies for their corporate offices
35% of retail organizations plan to replace some in-office roles with remote work within the next two years
63% of retail brands have increased digital communication channels to support remote teams
17% of retail employees have leveraged virtual collaboration tools for project management
44% of retail companies are exploring hybrid work models to enhance customer engagement
39% of retail firms offer flexible working hours as part of their remote policies
28% of retail management roles are now conducted remotely
34% of retail firms have adopted a formal remote work policy to standardize practices
53% of retail firms are considering permanent remote work options for key roles
18% of retail employees work entirely remotely

Remote Work Adoption and Preferences Interpretation

As remote work becomes as embedded in retail as last season's fashion, over half of companies see it as a strategic priority, yet only 18% of employees are entirely remote—highlighting a sector in stylish transition from in-store hustle to digital hustle.

Strategic Growth and Future Outlook

Retail startups with hybrid working models saw a 12% faster growth rate in 2023
36% of retail store locations plan to adopt hybrid operational models in the near future
55% of retail businesses plan to increase their hybrid workforce in the next year

Strategic Growth and Future Outlook Interpretation

As retail startups sprint ahead with 12% faster growth thanks to hybrid models, it's clear that flexibility isn't just a trend—it's the new blueprint for thriving in a competitive marketplace.