New National Research Partnership to Study Remote and Hybrid Work

Why It Matters

The study provides the data‑driven insight needed for Irish policymakers to align regional development, mobility and wellbeing strategies with the permanent shift toward remote and hybrid work, ensuring balanced economic growth.

Key Takeaways

• WDC and ATU launch two‑year study on remote work impacts
• Project will produce national datasets, policy briefings, and academic reports
• Findings aim to guide Irish government and regional development strategies
• Research focuses on wellbeing, mobility, local spending, and digital infrastructure
• Partnership builds on two‑decade remote‑work research legacy

Pulse Analysis

Remote and hybrid work have moved from pandemic stop‑gap to structural pillar of the Irish labour market. The Western Development Commission, a long‑standing champion of teleworking, and Atlantic Technological University, known for applied economics and regional development research, are joining forces to quantify this transformation. Their Connected Futures initiative taps into the WDC’s historic National Remote Work Survey and ATU’s campus network across the west, creating a unique blend of quantitative data and lived experience that few other programmes can match.

Over the next two years the partnership will map how flexible work patterns affect local spending, commuting behaviour, digital infrastructure and overall wellbeing. By delivering enhanced national datasets, policy briefings and peer‑reviewed outputs, the project aims to give the Irish government and regional bodies concrete evidence for crafting incentives, transport plans and broadband investments. Particular attention will be paid to how remote work can revitalize rural economies, reduce urban congestion and support sustainable mobility, aligning with broader EU objectives on regional cohesion and climate‑friendly transport.

The implications extend beyond Ireland’s borders. As other nations grapple with similar shifts, the Connected Futures findings will offer a benchmark for evaluating the long‑term socioeconomic impact of remote work. Stakeholders—from multinational employers to local councils—can use the insights to design talent‑attraction strategies, improve quality of life and ensure that the benefits of flexible work are distributed equitably across all communities. This evidence‑based approach positions Ireland to stay ahead of the curve in the evolving world of work.