The percentage of high-paying jobs — for $100,000 or more — available as hybrid fell 40% during the first quarter of 2024, as compared with the last quarter of 2023, according to an April report from Ladders.
Remote work availability also dropped 33% during the first quarter, now making up only 9% of six-figure career opportunities and continuing a “freefall” seen in 2023. In-person roles increased about 7%, accounting for 89% of high-paying jobs.
“The good news is that there are more high-paying jobs overall. However, that salary comes with a trade off. Jobs with higher pay have higher expectations that you’ll show up in person,” John Mullinix, director of growth marketing at Ladders, said in a statement.
“It’s interesting to see that the freefall continues,” he said. “While many job seekers are hoping this trend levels out, we aren’t seeing that yet.”
In the report, data scientists analyzed more than a half million job postings on Ladders from January to March 2024, noting the career fields, job titles and companies with the most high-paying jobs available.
By industry, healthcare remained the top field for high-paying careers, despite a slight decrease in the share of total jobs. In addition, legal and accounting jobs gained a 30% share of total jobs available, while pharmaceuticals and biotechnology saw a 23% decrease.
The Ladders report underscores recent trends seen in remote and hybrid job availability. During the second quarter of 2023, the number of job postings with the term “hybrid work” rose 29% as compared to the same time in 2022, according to a GlobalData report. During the same period, job postings with the terms “remote work” and “work from home” declined.
As remote and hybrid job postings have declined, human resources roles have seen the largest dip, according to an Indeed Hiring Lab report. Major declines have also been noted in corporate roles in marketing, media and communications.
Despite the drop in remote jobs, a disproportionate number of applicants are still searching for those roles, according to a report from BuiltIn.com. The gap reveals a disconnect between what companies are offering and what candidates want, which could add to the ongoing talent struggle to match workers with jobs, the company said.