By Mary Prenon

While many American companies, both large and small, have called employees back to the office over the past few years, remote jobs may still be holding up.

A new report from Flex Jobs, a Boulder, Colorado-based job-search platform, indicates remote-job postings in the first quarter increased by 20 percent from the fourth quarter of 2025.

“As the remote-job market continues to evolve, both employers and job seekers are adapting to new expectations around flexibility, compensation, and long-term career growth,” the report states.

According to its findings, mid-career professionals are leading the market, with 65 percent of remote positions targeting experienced workers. During the first quarter, the top five remote positions were in the project management, sales, computer and IT, business development, and operational fields.

The sales and business development sectors showed the highest gains for remote work, with salaries often exceeding $100,000 annually. Senior product managers, data engineers, and senior software engineers can earn an average of more than $130,000 a year, while product managers and product marketing managers can garner an average $105,000 annual salary.

The report also shows data indicating more than one-third of employees would hesitate to apply for a role that requires full-time, in-person requirements.

“Remote work remains strongest in established, high-impact functions that support core business operations and growth,” the report added.

However, some fields are experiencing slower growth for remote options, including accounting and finance positions, product jobs, education and training jobs, and medical and health careers.

According to the report, leading U.S. companies that typically hire for remote roles include Thermo Fisher Scientific, General Electric, Abbott, General Dynamics, Liberty Mutual, and Apex Systems.

For the remainder of this year, Flex Jobs predicts continued growth in the “work-from-home” model as people are more focused on flexibility.

The platform’s State of the Workplace Study 2026 found that 66 percent of job seekers have changed or considered changing careers, while 41 percent have quit a current position or are considering leaving.

The survey is based on responses from more than 4,000 U.S. professionals and was conducted Feb. 2–16.

The study also indicates that many employees maintain mixed sentiments about their job future. More than 35 percent said that they were pessimistic about future job prospects, while 32 percent indicated they were optimistic.

Many expressed concerns about long-term job stability, especially as workplace expectations and technology continue to evolve.

However, 57 percent reported they were very likely to accept a new job if offered, as compared to just 22 percent who indicated they were somewhat more likely to change positions. Only 4 percent said they were less likely to accept a new job.

When it comes to remote work, more than 35 percent said that having the ability to work remotely played a more important role than salary.

“Workers are becoming more intentional about their careers, prioritizing flexibility and alignment with personal goals over traditional incentives,” the report states.