Movers Index | Commuting rebounds but travel patterns shift: What it means for employers

British workers are heading back to the office in greater numbers, but their commuting habits are changing in unexpected ways.

According to the latest Movers Index from Virgin Media O2 Business, 88% of employees are now subject to compulsory office attendance, yet the number of commute trips into major towns and cities actually fell by 7% in 2024.

The findings, based on anonymised mobile data and national polling, highlight a paradox: while more employees are returning to the office, they are consolidating their trips, potentially choosing remote-friendly locations closer to home, or adjusting work schedules to avoid unnecessary travel.

Workers adapt to new commuting realities

Despite the return-to-office push, the way employees are commuting has changed. The report reveals that 76% of workers commute at least three days per week, and 39% have resumed a full-time, five-day office schedule. Yet, instead of a wholesale return to pre-pandemic norms, workers are adapting—choosing when and how to travel based on personal and financial considerations.