25,000 unemployed Scots could have a job if flexible working was offered, according to study

A lack of flexible working opportunities could be preventing as many as 25,000 unemployed Scottish adults from finding a job, a study has found.

Business consultancy Flexibility Works surveyed 208 adults who were unemployed and looking for work, and found 28% said the availability of flexible working would “make the difference” in enabling them to secure a job.

With an estimated 89,700 adults in Scotland unemployed and looking for work, this could be the equivalent of 25,116 people across the country.

Nearly half (48%) also said they were put off applying for roles because the opportunity to work flexibly was not mentioned in the job advert.

A related study looking specifically at parents found many unemployed parents are “locked out” of work because they cannot find the flexible opportunities they need, particularly around childcare.

Some 42% of the 318 unemployed parents surveyed said a lack of flexibility around their children was the biggest barrier to getting a job, with 45% saying it is difficult even finding information about flexible working for potential roles.

Flexibility Works said that while two-thirds of Scottish workers work flexibly, only a third of Scottish job adverts mention flexible working.

It called on employers to offer more flexible working opportunities, and to promote the flexible working they already have during the recruitment process.

On its website Flexibility Works defines flexible working as “a pattern or schedule that’s not a rigid Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm in the same place”, and over which the employee has “some choice and control”.

Nikki Slowey, co-founder and director at Flexibility Works, said: “For many people, flexible working isn’t just a perk, it’s absolutely essential in order to work at all.

“And yet, even with the rise in flexible working due to the pandemic, there are still not enough flexible jobs for those who need them.

“More frustratingly, many employers don’t mention existing flexible working when they’re recruiting, making it even harder for people to find the flexibility they need, and harder for companies to fill vacant roles.

“We’re encouraging employers to promote the flexible working they already have, and to explore where they can create flexibility when designing and advertising jobs.

“All the evidence shows this is hugely beneficial for employers too by attracting more quality candidates from wider talent pools.”

Kirsty Emans, 42, is a single parent who had to leave a job because last-minute rotas made it too difficult to organise childcare for her eight-year-old daughter.

“It was emotionally and mentally draining. In the end I left because the stress was too much,” she said.

“I was out of work for a few months and then I got some brilliant help to find a job that suited me and my family so much better – a school catering role that was inside school hours and term time only.

“Now I can drop my daughter off and pick her up easily. And I don’t have to worry about school holidays.”

She added: “It really has changed my life. So much weight has been lifted.”

Flexibility Works has also called on the Scottish Government to be “more proactive in influencing business leaders to embrace flexible working”, and to support businesses that want to offer it but which lack the resources to do so.

It said providing more flexible working opportunities would help reduce economic inactivity and poverty – with getting parents into work being particularly important given the Government’s priority to reduce child poverty.

Business and Employment Secretary Richard Lochhead said he welcomed the reports, which he said supported “our policy aims to tackle economic inactivity and improve the working lives of people in Scotland.”

He went on: “With the limited powers at our disposal, the Scottish Government has supported flexible, family-friendly working from day one of employment where we can.

“Through initiatives like our Parental Employability Support offer, we’re helping more parents move into work, progress in their careers and boost their household incomes.

“We are also committed to funding pilot projects over the course of 2025-26 to help employers implement flexible working, improve recruitment practices to create a more diverse workforce and offer enhanced support for disabled employees.”

Flexibility Works’ Flex for Life 2025 report was based on a survey of 1,304 Scottish adults, 208 of whom were unemployed and looking for work.

Meanwhile the Flex for Life – Are we nearly there yet?! report was based on a survey of 1,170 Scottish parents, 318 of whom were unemployed and looking for work.

Flexibility Works is part-funded and supported by the Scottish Government.