Remote Work in Georgia’s IT Sector: Flexibility or Compromise?

The COVID-19 pandemic turned remote work into a widespread practice across Georgia, but within the IT sector, the trends reveal a more complex picture. Despite being a digital-native industry, only 26% of IT professionals in Georgia worked remotely in 2023—meaning they spent at least half of their working days from home. This indicates a clear return-to-office tendency after pandemic restrictions were lifted.

Although technological tools make remote work possible, many industry representatives emphasize that a fully remote model is not always optimal. According to them, in-person work fosters more effective communication, stronger team engagement, and better project coordination. Still, demand for remote work remains high—especially in urban areas like Tbilisi, where traffic congestion, time inefficiencies, and the comfort of working from home continue to influence worker preferences.

Survey data also suggests that remote work may introduce challenges in time management. For example, 27% of IT professionals report working more than 40 hours per week, and 16% occasionally work in the evening or at night. While some of this is driven by international collaboration across time zones, it may also reflect unstructured workloads and blurred boundaries between work and personal life.

Remote work is not just a logistical decision—it also reflects company culture, managerial style, and how autonomy is valued. Many companies now adopt hybrid models, with employees working from the office a few days a week and remotely the rest of the time. This approach appears to offer a balanced and sustainable compromise.

Despite these shifts, the statistics show that remote work is far from decentralizing the labor market: 93% of IT professionals still reside in urban areas. This highlights the continued reliance on cities due to infrastructure, professional networks, and management practices that remain office-centered.

Remote work in Georgia’s IT sector is still evolving. Some companies view it as a tool to attract talent, while others worry it may reduce productivity. Ultimately, the future of remote work will depend not just on technology, but on how well the sector balances employee flexibility with organizational performance goals.

Find the BTU’s research report on IT sector trends here.