Workwear is altering throughout many elements of the world. Such a shift was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as many people swapped our workplace apparel for tracksuits and slippers.
Knowledge from world hiring platform Certainly reveals that the UK is not proof against this shift in attitudes. The standard swimsuit and tie are now not in fashion, as many employers transfer in the direction of extra relaxed gown codes. Except for COVID-19, driving components embrace the growing share of Gen Z and millennials within the workforce, in addition to the affect of the tech trade on different occupations.
In July 2025, 3.3% of UK job postings referenced informal gown, greater than ten instances increased than pre-pandemic figures. Generally used phrases embrace ‘sensible informal’ or ‘gown in your day’. Mentions rose sharply early within the pandemic, finally peaking at round 4.0% in early 2023.
Earlier than the pandemic, references to informal gown have been current in lower than 1% of job listings, and within the first half of 2019, it remained at simply 0.2%. Since Could 2021, nonetheless, it has by no means fallen beneath 3%.
“The pandemic triggered widespread modifications in how folks within the UK work, impacting expectations round the place and the way we work, but in addition what we put on,” famous a weblog put up written by Certainly economists Callam Pickering and Jack Kennedy.
“For employers, a relaxed gown coverage can say rather a lot about office tradition. And in a aggressive hiring panorama, providing flexibility, even in apparel, may also help entice high expertise,” they continued.
Dr. Abbey Bartosiak-Ison, shopper science & analytics skilled, emphasised that earlier than the pandemic, many firms have been extra closely targeted on revenue, typically placing wellbeing second.
“Through the pandemic, the main target shifted dramatically; it needed to. With widespread uncertainty and heightened anxiousness, workers working from house prioritised well being, household, and productiveness over look,” she informed Euronews Enterprise.
An extended-lasting pattern
Callam Pickering and Jack Kennedy recommended that whereas the pandemic helped drive this shift in office gown requirements, it continues to be supported by wider social and cultural modifications.
As an illustration, millennials and Gen Z are quickly to be the 2 largest generations within the workforce, and plenty of of them now maintain positions of energy or affect. In comparison with their older colleagues, they’re extra prone to favour a relaxed gown code. Added to this, tech tradition, lengthy immune to conventional workplace norms, is influencing different industries. Silicon Valley has lengthy been identified for its hoodies and trainers — prioritising creativity and a snug work setting over custom.
Informal gown most typical in care, advertising and marketing and media roles
From 2020 to 2023, job postings that supplied at the very least 20% distant work have been extra prone to point out informal gown.
And in 2025, expectations round skilled apparel are nonetheless closely influenced by career. Private care and residential well being, advertising and marketing, media and communications, and training and coaching are all sectors which have excessive charges of postings mentioning informal gown.
Attitudes round workwear are additionally influenced by area.
Northern Eire recorded the very best share of job postings mentioning informal gown, adopted by North West England and the East Midlands. London had the bottom share at simply 2.3%, with Scotland barely increased.
Certainly economists famous that London’s decrease price could replicate its job combine. Many roles are in monetary providers, the place formal gown continues to be anticipated. In tech, informal gown is so widespread that it’s not often talked about in postings.
