How remote high-tech workers are transforming Ireland's cities

The Hidden Cost of Remote Work: Who Pays When Borders Blur? As remote work globalises, a quiet tension is emerging. Professionals increasingly earn UK or EU-level incomes while living in lower-cost economies — accessing the infrastructure and credibility of one country while benefiting from the affordability of another. The result is an invisible fiscal gap: work is decoupled from place, yet public systems still underwrite the trust, technology, and legal frameworks that make digital labour possible. If both nations sustain that value — one through digital infrastructure, the other through daily life — should both share in the tax return? Global mobility shouldn’t mean escaping civic duty; it should mean proportional contribution to every ecosystem that enables your work. From an AI ethics and policy perspective, this is a signal of things to come. As intelligent automation further dissolves borders, governance must evolve from geography-based taxation toward value-based accountability — where contribution follows creation, not location. #Remote

🌍 Exploring the Future of Remote Work in Europe 🗣️ Recently, Marco R. Di Tommaso, Coordinator of the #REMAKING project, presented the ongoing #research at our sister project's R-Map project EU consortium #meeting, sharing insights into how remote work is transforming individuals, businesses, and society 💡 Key #Highlights from the Presentation: 📖 Survey & Case Studies: Over 14,000 survey responses collected across Europe, plus multiple case studies examining post-pandemic work, digital nomads, integration, and student workers 📈 Remote Work Trends: Now common for ~20% of EU employees, adoption driven by employee preference and organizational capacity 🌿 Impacts: Flexibility, urban/regional geographies, job market fragmentation, socio-economic transformation 📚 Policy Implications: Need for tools supporting social inclusion, territorial balance, environmental sustainability, innovation, and economic growth #REMAKING #RemoteWork #FutureOfWork #DigitalNomads #SocioEconomicImpact #Policy #Research #Innovation #RMAP European Commission Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Elhuyar Trinity College Dublin Prague University of Economics and Business European Research Executive Agency (REA) Visionary Analytics WinWin4WorkLife Leibniz-Institut für Raumbezogene Sozialforschung (IRS) Comune di Bologna

Over the past decade, we’ve quietly entered a new phase of brain drain. Our best talent has migrated, is migrating, or plans to leave the region at the first opportunity — and the data backs it up. According to the UN, the Caribbean has one of the highest emigration rates of skilled workers in the world. In some countries, more than 70% of tertiary-educated citizens live abroad. Yet unlike past generations, today’s technology gives us a way to stay connected — if we choose to use it. This week, I saw a Digital Strategist job from EY that required being on-site in Trinidad. But the reality is, the best Trini Digital Strategists I know have already moved or are planning to. And that’s the problem — not just for one company, but for the entire region. Remote work isn’t a luxury anymore... It’s now survival. It’s how small economies like ours can keep citizens contributing, even if they’re living abroad. Other countries are already doing it — keeping their talent engaged, employed, and connected to home. If we don’t evolve, we’ll keep losing the very people who could build the Caribbean’s future. Read the full article 👉 https://lnkd.in/ewbgsSTG

❔ Why should be care about Remote Work? 💡 In this episode of how remote work affects society, where members of the #REMAKING project consortium give their views on this topic, Ivana Lukes Rybanska (Prague University of Economics and Business) and Giulio Buciuni (Trinity College Dublin) share their views on how remote work is transforming the world of work 🌍 Ivana highlights that #remotework reflects a deeper shift in work relations and business models — shaping how we’ll work and live in the #future 🏙️ Giulio notes that while many return to the #office, the five-day office week is gone. The future is #hybrid — redefining how labor and #collaboration are organized 🚀 At #REMAKING, we explore how these changes affect society and what they mean for the future of work 🔗 You can watch more #videos like this one, and all those related to the #REMAKING project, on our YouTube channel https://lnkd.in/da5UEzBy #HorizonEU #FutureOfWork #RemoteWork #HybridWork #WorkCulture #DigitalTransformation #Innovation #Leadership #OrganizationalChange #HorizonEurope #REMAKINGProject #WorkTrends #EmployeeExperience #WorkplaceInnovation #Collaboration #WorkLifeBalance European Commission Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Elhuyar Trinity College Dublin Prague University of Economics and Business European Research Executive Agency (REA) Visionary Analytics WinWin4WorkLife Leibniz-Institut für Raumbezogene Sozialforschung (IRS) Comune di Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna EU Science, Research and Innovation European Creative Hubs Network Paris School of Business

🌍 New Open-Access Publication in Scientific Data (Nature Portfolio)! Thrilled to share our latest paper: 📄 “A Large-Scale Dataset for Analysing Remote Working in Urban and Rural Areas Across Europe” ➡️ Read it here https://lnkd.in/eRSbcefg This study presents one of the most comprehensive datasets ever collected on remote work across Europe, covering over 20,000 participants from urban and rural contexts. It explores how remote working reshapes patterns of mobility, relocation, well-being, productivity, and access to amenities, offering a robust foundation for evidence-based urban and regional policy. 🏗️ Developed within the EU-funded Horizon Europe project R-MAP – Remote Working and the Spatial, Economic and Social Dimensions of the Urban-Rural Divide, the dataset supports research and policy design on the future of work, territorial cohesion, and sustainable regional development. 💡 Key features: 20,013 survey responses from 30+ European countries Data on flexibility, work-life balance, relocation, and commuting patterns Insights into digital infrastructure and rural revitalization Fully open and reusable dataset via the Open Science Framework (OSF) 👩💻 Authors: Katharina Fellnhofer et al. 🏛️ Institutions: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Twente, Bocconi University, Koç University, ETH Zürich, University of Surrey, and others This work contributes to understanding how remote work can bridge the urban–rural divide—a central objective of the R-MAP Project and of the EU’s territorial cohesion agenda. #RemoteWork #UrbanRuralDivide #HorizonEurope #RMAP #ScientificData #OpenScience #FutureOfWork #TerritorialCohesion #DataForPolicy

🇭🇺 Meet the Hungarian Members of the Remote Workers Policy Hub (RWPH) We’re proud to present the Hungarian organisations and experts joining the Danube4Rural.com project through STRIA Nonprofit Ltd. Their work reflects the region’s innovative and forward-thinking spirit. 🌍 The RWPH connects public and private actors across the Danube Region to co-create practical, human-centred policies that make rural areas more attractive for digital professionals and remote workers. 🎯 Our shared goals: 💡 Foster innovation for rural revitalization 🤝 Strengthen cross-border collaboration 🌱 Support digital inclusion and smart regional growth 🤝 Hungarian Members: 🏛 National Association of Entrepreneurs and Employers (VOSZ) – advancing rural digitalization and equal access to remote work. 🎓 University of Pécs – providing academic excellence and innovation expertise for evidence-based policymaking. 🏢 Pécs-Baranya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PBKIK) – empowering SMEs and entrepreneurs through digital transformation. 🏗 Holcim Hungary Ltd – promoting sustainable, future-ready business practices and rural resilience. 🏡 Baranya County Municipality – strengthening local governance, community well-being, and policy dialogue. 👩💼 Hungarian Experts: ⚖️ Dr. Kata Konstantin, legal expert: shaping fair, effective regulatory frameworks for rural digital work. 📊 Szabina Pazaurek, project manager at PBKIK – driving EU-funded cooperation and business development. Together, these members and experts form a strong, diverse Hungarian contribution to the RWPH, connecting research, governance, and business to build vibrant, connected rural regions across the Danube. #Danube4Rural #RWPH #RemoteWork #RuralDevelopment #InterregDanube #STRIA

📢 Top 5 Tuesday: Top 5 Countries Where Remote Work is Thriving Remote work isn’t just a trend, it’s shaping economies. Here are 5 countries leading the way for remote professionals in 2025. 🇨🇦 Canada 🇩🇪 Germany 🇪🇪 Estonia 🇮🇳 India 🇵🇹 Portugal These hubs are rewriting the future of work. #Top5Tuesday #RemoteWork #GlobalJobs #reesmarxGLOBAL #FutureOfWork

🌍 Cross-Border Remote Work Flexibility in the EU As the nature of work evolves, the EU has a real opportunity to rethink how remote work interacts with tax and employment regulations across member states. Allowing employees to work remotely from another EU country for part of the year — close to their families and communities — could bring major social and economic benefits: ✅ Ease pressure on overcrowded cities like Dublin, where housing and infrastructure are stretched. ✅ Support regional economies, from local cafés and hotels to rural service industries. ✅ Improve wellbeing and family connection — key drivers of talent retention and productivity. A balanced framework could be introduced — for example, up to three months abroad followed by one month in the employer’s home country. This would maintain business ties while offering genuine flexibility. Naturally, this would require careful coordination around taxation, social contributions, and employment law. But the long-term rewards — both human and economic — could be significant. There’s growing research showing that hybrid and cross-border remote work are here to stay, with real implications for cities, housing, and taxation. See Eurofound, OECD, and McKinsey reports on telework adoption, worker preferences, and how hybrid work is reshaping urban economies. 📄 https://lnkd.in/epC25QMM? It’s time for a serious conversation about what a truly connected, flexible European workforce could look like. #RemoteWork #FutureOfWork #EuropeanUnion #CrossBorderWork #HybridWork #WorkLifeBalance #SmartCities #EUPolicy #SustainableGrowth

👩💻Working from home results in: Efficiency: 200% Saves lots of time 🤞 Greener environment 🍃 ❓But is it always the case especially for new commers? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Each immigrant’s situation depends on factors like professional background, language skills, and stage of resettlement. But as an immigrant myself, I think it helps to first ask a few key questions: 1️⃣ What are the benefits of being physically present in a workplace?
2️⃣ What challenges do newcomers face in their first months, when they’re still dealing with bureaucracy and settling down? On the one hand, being in the office helps you connect with colleagues, learn local culture, and build friendships — things that matter a lot, especially in the early days. It also accelerates language learning because daily professional and social interactions push you to adapt faster. On the other hand, settling in a new country takes time and energy. Having the flexibility to work remotely (at least initially) can reduce stress and give newcomers the breathing space they need. Without this, many may feel overwhelmed by the dual pressure of integration and daily job demands. From a broader perspective, I believe companies should embrace flexible or hybrid arrangements. This allows immigrants to gradually move from remote to in-office work, balancing integration with personal well-being. Beyond immigration, flexibility reduces burnout, supports work–life balance, and even benefits the environment by cutting down on commuting. 👉 I’d love to hear your thoughts: * If you were starting a new life in another country, would you prefer the office or remote work first? * For employers, what balance do you think works best when onboarding international talent? 🔖 
#FutureOfWork #RemoteWork #HybridWork #ImmigrationJourney #WorkplaceCulture #LanguageLearning #EmployeeWellbeing #Flexibility

📘 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: "𝐀 𝐦𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐝-𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲-𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐥" Our colleague Esther Villajos Girona, PhD, together with Amalia Raquel Pérez-Nebra and Jonathan Peñalver González, has published a new article titled "A mixed-method of the happy-productive: wellbeing and performance patterns of remote workers in Brazil" in Frontiers in Sociology. 🎉 This study analyzes the relationship between well-being at work and job performance in remote work through a mixed-method approach. 💡 The findings highlight the existence of four patterns (“9-to-5”, “entrenched”, “engaged”, “burned-out”), pointing out the diverse experiences remote workers may have and the practical implications for implementing flexibility practices. 📘 Pérez-Nebra A.R., Villajos E. and Peñalver J. (2025) A mixed-method of the happy-productive: wellbeing and performance patterns of remote workers in Brazil. Front. Sociol. 10:1625831. doi: 10.3389/fsoc.2025.1625831 #happyproductiveworkers #brasil #telework