Research investigation / November 11, 2026

57% of Workers Had Flexible Schedules in 2024–25

A federal survey found flexible work hours were more common than occasional work from home, but the measures describe different worker groups and should not be interpreted as a direct comparison.

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Question

How common were flexible work schedules and occasional work at home among U.S. workers in 2024–25?

Claim being tested

BLS reported that 57% of workers had flexible start and end times in 2024–25, while 34% of wage and salary workers worked at home at least occasionally.

In its 2024–25 Job Flexibilities and Work Schedules survey, BLS reported that 57% of workers could vary their work start and end times. Separately, 34% of wage and salary workers (about 51 million) worked at home at least occasionally.

Competing story frames

Fact-based response

What the data actually show

THE SOURCE — The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published its 2024–25 Leave and Job Flexibilities Module results on September 24, 2026. The figures describe survey responses gathered across 2024 and 2025, not changes from one year to the next.

FLEXIBLE HOURS — Fifty-seven percent of workers reported a flexible schedule allowing them to vary when they started and ended work. This measures scheduling flexibility, not whether someone works remotely.

WORKING AT HOME — About 34% of wage and salary workers, or 51 million, worked at home at least occasionally. BLS also estimated 37%, or 56 million, could work at home. Being able to work at home is not the same as actually doing so.

Source data comparison

Work flexibility, 2024–25

Published source data

X-axis: BLS survey measure

Y-axis: Share of workers (%)

Work flexibility, 2024–25. BLS 2024–25 Leave and Job Flexibilities Module. Measures have different definitions; do not add percentages or infer overlap.
Category	%
Flexible schedule	57%
Worked at home sometimes	34%
Could work at home	37%

BLS 2024–25 Leave and Job Flexibilities Module. Measures have different definitions; do not add percentages or infer overlap.

DIFFERENT MEASURES — These percentages cover related but distinct concepts. They should not be added together or used to infer the number of people who have both flexible hours and remote-work options.

LIMITATIONS — The module excludes self-employed workers and focuses on a respondent's sole or main job. Survey estimates describe national patterns, not individual employer policies, changes over time, or the effects of any specific legislation.