What’s the most important factor you consider when looking for a new job? Is it the compensation package? Company values and culture? Experiencing fulfilment and satisfaction on the job?

For most professionals, remote work is a non-negotiable factor. In fact, 81% of respondents to a recent FlexJobs survey of more than 3,000 U.S. professionals in August 2024 agreed that being able to work fully remotely is considered the most important factor when looking for work. What’s even more interesting is that while two-thirds of workers intend to leave their roles in pursuit of a better job this year, more than a third cite remote work as a motivating factor which could persuade them to stay within their current role.

As demand for remote work continues to soar, it’s critical to understand what sectors and career categories are at the top of their game when it comes to having the largest number of remote job openings.

Top 20 Remote Jobs Of 2025

FlexJobs analyzed data on the remote roles that saw at least 17% growth in fully remote jobs within the past year, and this is what they discovered (ranked from highest to lowest in terms of growth percentage):

1. Engineering
2. Business development
3. Data entry
4. Communications
5. Client services
6. Operations
7. Nursing
8. Sales
9. Account management
10. Environmental and green
11. Education and training
12. Banking
13. Medical and health
14. Product
15. Advertising and PR
16. Bilingual
17. Legal
18. Art and creative
19. Social media
20. Administrative

Why Remote Work Still Matters In 2025

The topic of remote work and the likelihood of returning to the office has been one of much contention and hated debate, but why? What is it that’s motivating professionals to continue working from home as much as possible?

In recent years, we’ve seen an increased emphasis on prioritizing flexibility, work/life balance, and wellbeing within the workplace. Additionally, we’ve observed how this new push on flexible working has empowered professionals to take control and take charge of their lives; and they love how it feels.

Professionals in 2025 and in the future refuse to allow their work life to be defined by how “going to work” looked just 10 years ago. They want employers who care about them and their families, They desire meaning and purpose in their roles. They want to work and live in their passion. For many, this means working independently as a freelance professional (at least 50% of American workers will be freelancing by 2027). For others, this involves digital nomadism, or the flexibility to work remotely and take on a hobby or side hustle and grow it into an empire. Or it could mean taking the (once) unconventional route and throwing aside the four-year degree in favor of online certifications and courses.

Employers need to catch up and meet this demand, ensuring their workers feel supported each step of the way in their career journey for as long as they’re with them and making adjustments in their HR policies that satisfy the needs of the business while ensuring their people are put first.

And as a professional seeking remote work, you can embrace this new way of working by investing heavily in your own professional development and polishing your “soft” skills (also known as power skills), while actively networking and building strategic relationships within your desired industry so you can align yourself with the best opportunities.

Keep persevering and refining your search. You’ve got this.