More than half of female workers (53%) say hybrid working has empowered them to apply to a more senior role within their organisation, highlighting the positive impact that hybrid working is having on breaking the glass ceiling.

Flexibility is key with nearly 80% of women saying it allowed them to apply to these roles, reveals IWG's Empowering Women in the Hybrid Workplace Report.

An overwhelming majority (88%) believe that the flexibility of hybrid working serves as an equaliser in the workplace, and 66% believe it has led to them experiencing less bias in the workplace, whether due to gender, race or otherwise.

Hybrid working has meant more women are making major career decisions - switching jobs and industries - based on accessibility to hybrid working, which is facilitating better work life balance and opening up new career opportunities for them.

Three in five (62%) of respondents have considered applying for a new job that offers more flexible working and nearly half (48%) are considering a career change that they would not have considered previously.

In pursuit of flexible working arrangements, many have changed industries altogether with nearly half (47%) saying that hybrid working has enabled them to move into a new industry. Women report that this career growth comes from hybrid working making them more efficient and productive (58%), helping them learn more about other roles at their company (47%), and increasing their visibility with senior leadership (38%).

Previous research from IWG, a global provider of flexible workspaces, found that hybrid working is a key recruitment and retention tool for HR leaders and this rings true for women in particular.

In fact, hybrid working has become a ‘non-negotiable’ for many women, with 72% saying they’d look for another role if their employer no longer offered a hybrid schedule and two-fifths (40%) even resigned from their previous role as a result of not having one in place.

Hybrid working does not only benefit women professionally.

Across ages groups, nearly half (49%) said that hybrid working has given them more time to pursue personal passions outside of work and a large majority (75%) of women reported a better work life balance because of saving both time and money on reduced commuting (67%), more flexibility in their schedules (66%), and improved mental health (44%).

In addition, among the 53% of women who identify as caregivers, 65% considered flexible work arrangements a valuable caregiving benefit, recognising that through hybrid working, they can save money and have more time to participate in family events.

“Embracing equity is the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day and hybrid working, one of the biggest innovations in the world of work in decades has the potential to substantially deliver on this vision,” said Fatima Koning, Group Chief Commercial Officer, IWG.

“The research shows that more women are making major career decisions, switching jobs and industries, based substantially on the ability to access hybrid working, which is facilitating a better work/life balance and opening up new career opportunities for them. I have felt the personal and professional benefits of hybrid first-hand, and I am glad to see that other women are experiencing them too.”