Last year, almost one million people in Ireland worked from home, representing a record 35.4% of the national workforce. As we move into 2026, the question is no longer whether remote work is here to stay, nor even whether it is good for business. Its growing prominence in the economy is proof of both. The main question here is whether corporate leaders are equipped to leverage distributed work to support their own business goals.
At Grow Remote, we have explored the research and have spoken directly with over a hundred leaders in the last year to learn about the challenges of remote. Encouragingly, the evidence suggests that remote work can help companies thrive – but only if we invest in managers.
Remote Work is a Sustainable Solution
Distributed employment is being framed as a solution not just to business management, but also to broader geopolitical and environmental challenges.
This month, the European Commission is proposing that member states encourage companies to mandate at least one day of compulsory remote working per week, where possible, as a means of reducing fossil fuel demand and enhancing energy efficiency.
This is a significant development in the public narrative on remote work we have seen across our screens in recent years. Remote employment is no longer considered merely a perk or a legacy of the pandemic. Due to its myriad social, economic and environmental benefits (the research is overwhelming), distributed operating models have become a pillar of sustainable economic policy for policymakers and corporations alike.
Throughout 2026 and beyond, we are likely to see leaders continue to explore this data-driven opportunity to keep costs down and reduce energy consumption while increasing productivity and engagement from employees.
The Numbers Speak for Themselves
Grow Remote has consistently documented the real-world impact of remote work. For every 1,000 remote jobs created in Ireland,Grow Remote’s data show:*
- €13M in local economic spend generated
- 700 additional jobs sustained locally
- 223,100 commuting hours returned to workers and their communities
- 600 tonnes of CO₂ avoided annually — equivalent to 9,500 Dublin–London flights per year
On the ground, these somewhat abstract figures represent an opportunity for thriving regional towns and rural villages, more families getting involved in communities, additional volunteering time and local spend, as well as cleaner air.
So why isn’t distributed work delivering on its full potential everywhere? The findings from Grow Remote’s interviews with employers are consistent: the biggest barrier to sustainable remote and hybrid work isn’t technology, productivity, or collaboration. It’s leadership.
Ibec confirmed this recently — Leadership Development was the number one talent management priority for Irish employers in 2025. Gallup’s multi-year research tells the same story: managers of remote and hybrid teams are under-supported, under-trained, and under pressure.
The tools and technology exist. What’s missing is the training for managers to build confidence and skills to lead effectively – from anywhere.
Solving the Management Problem
That’s precisely why Grow Remote has secured full funding for Lead From Anywhere – a leadership training programme open to managers and leaders across Irish companies of any size. The course provides the tools, frameworks, and confidence to lead distributed teams effectively. And it costs employers and individuals nothing, funded through SOLAS and the National Training Fund.
The results speak for themselves:
- 90% of participants implemented initiatives that positively impacted their business
- Over 80% felt more confident managing the challenges of distributed leadership.
As Grow Remote’s Head of Programmes, Dónal Kearney, puts it:
“As the benefits of well-designed remote work persist into 2026, we are seeing an increase in employer demand for supports and training at the same time as society’s need for them is growing too.”
Limited spaces available. First come, first served: Register for Lead From Anywhere today
* Impact data are modelled on 1,000 newly created, fully-remote jobs in the Republic of Ireland. See Grow Remote’s full workingsfor details.
