EU R-Map research: 80% of remote workers prefer rural or suburban living, but infrastructure determines who actually moves
The EU-funded R-Map project, a three-year Horizon Europe research programme, has published interim findings on how remote work is reshaping the urban-rural divide across six European locations including the German-Dutch border zones. According to European Central Bank data cited in the study, the share of EU employees working from home at least occasionally rose from 12% in 2019 to 22% in 2024. R-Map surveyed over 20,000 workers and found that 80% would prefer rural or suburban locations if remote work were genuinely supported – but most remain in cities because infrastructure and policy alignment do not yet allow real choice.
Why this matters
The headline finding is not “everyone wants to leave the city” – it is that 80% of workers see rural or suburban life as preferable, but practical constraints (internet, transport, services, school networks, healthcare access) keep them where they are. For regions hoping to attract remote workers, the implication is direct: build the infrastructure first, the workers will follow. For remote workers considering a move, the implication is to evaluate concrete infrastructure (not the postcard) before committing to a rural relocation.
The study supports a broader European policy conversation about rural revival, second-city growth, and regional rebalancing through remote work. It also pushes back against the “digital nomads gentrify destinations” narrative by reframing the question: most remote workers are not relocating internationally – they want to live somewhere different within their own country.
Context
R-Map is part of Horizon Europe’s regional cohesion research line. The case study featured most prominently in current press coverage is a Dutch tech worker living in greater Lisbon, but the project’s six locations span several countries and worker profiles. For RWE’s existing coverage of European country options and the practical realities of moving, see our country guides.
Transparency disclosure
Remote Work Europe’s editor, Maya Middlemiss, serves on the R-Map project advisory board. RWE has no financial interest in the project’s outputs or findings; the advisory role is contributory, not editorial. We disclose the relationship so readers can weigh our coverage with full context.