No more working 9 to 5? Vast majority of Britons now work different hours, study shows

The end of the 9 to 5 work day appears to be here, a new survey has found, as the vast majority of people work different hours.

While just six per cent of people now work the traditional shift, according to a new YouGov study, almost half of people work flexibly, job sharing or working compressed hours, allowing them to juggle other commitments.

The study, which surveyed 4,000 people, found that the most desired shift begins at 8am and finishes at 4pm, with 37 per cent of people choosing those hours.

The second most popular shift to work is 7am until 3pm, which was chosen by 21 per cent of people who took the survey.

Flexibility is desired by workers of all life stages and ages, and those who did work flexibly reported that they were more motivated, and it encouraged them to stay in a job for longer.

A previous study on the topic found that Londoners want to start work late, with over a quarter wishing to start work after 9am, compared to just 12 per cent in the rest of the South and 13 per cent in the North.

YouGov explained this, adding it could be because of a wish to avoid rush hour on London's busy public transport. system.

Another 13 per cent of people wanted an 8.30 start working until 4.30pm, and 10 per cent favoured 7am until 3pm. 

The choices did not appear to relate to whether or not the person surveyed was a parent. People with no children or with grown-up children were equally likely to want the earlier working day as those with school-age children. 

But the pattern shifts for people who live in London - and those in their late teens and early twenties. 

Early starts are less favoured by these two groups, with 19 per cent of 18-24 year olds saying they would like to start work after 9am compared to just 9 per cent of people aged 54 to 65.