The findings underline a significant cultural and operational shift in Tokyo’s corporate landscape, where hybrid work models are becoming a sustainable norm
The trend of hybrid work continues to grow among Tokyo’s corporate employees, with fewer workers commuting to the office daily. A recent survey by the Nomura Research Institute (NRI) revealed that the proportion of employees at large Tokyo companies who work in-office every day dropped to 47.4% in 2024, down from 53.1% the previous year.
Meanwhile, the percentage of employees commuting to the office three to four days per week rose to 26.5% in 2024 from 22% in 2023, indicating a shift toward more flexible working arrangements. These changes come as Japan gradually normalizes post-pandemic life.
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The NRI survey, conducted annually for the past three years, assessed work styles and migration patterns
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The 2024 edition, conducted in July, polled 3,091 employees aged 20 to 69 who work for large Tokyo-based firms
In May 2023, Japan’s government downgraded COVID-19 to a Class 5 infectious disease, equating it with seasonal influenza. This policy shift made mask-wearing and social distancing optional, prompting many employees to return to their workplaces.
However, the survey highlights that full-time in-office work has not regained pre-pandemic levels. Prior to the pandemic, 82.8% of respondents worked entirely in-office. By 2022, that figure had plummeted to 38.3%, and it has yet to recover fully.
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