Working from home hasn’t just changed our working habits — it’s changed our podcast habits, too.
On the one hand, without a daily commute, a fair amount of podcast-listening time has been lost. However, research shows that despite an initial dip, lockdown podcast listening bounced back to pre-COVID rates and higher, with more people than ever choosing podcasts over radio and music. This suggests that without the socialising aspects of an office, more people are listening to podcasts while working from home to fill in the gap and give themselves a productive boost.
We’ve taken a look at the UK’s podcast habits to investigate what Brits are listening to while working from home.
Podcast Listening Increased 15% During Lockdown
As much as 44% of podcast use in the UK happens during the commute. Without commuting, the overall podcast audience decreased by an estimated 20%.
However, this soon bounced back to typical rates in April and May as the UK adapted to the new way of working. As Brits found ways to integrate podcasts into their new daily habits, the average time spent listening to podcasts increased 30 minutes — around 15% — between Q1 and Q2 2020. This suggests that instead of listening to podcasts while commuting, UK workers are finding ways to listen to their favourite podcasts during business hours.
In total, 15.5 million Brits listened to a podcast in 2020, and recent figures suggest over 10 million Brits — two-thirds of podcast subscribers — listen to a podcast every week.
The Best Professional Development Podcasts
Those looking to upskill, find work inspiration and develop professional skills turned to podcasts while working from home. We compiled a list of professional development podcasts and looked up the top ones in terms of reviews and ratings.
Most Popular Podcast Genres UK
Within the complete list of the UK’s top podcasts, the following genres appear most regularly:
1. Comedy — 24% of the UK’s most popular podcasts
2. Sports — 12% of the UK’s most popular podcasts
3. News & Current Affairs — 9% of the UK’s most popular podcasts
Some Brits are even getting their True Crime fix while working from home. True Crime makes up 6% of the nation’s favourite podcasts.
Top Branded Podcasts
With podcasts becoming increasingly popular and more people listening while working from home, many brands are jumping on the opportunity to reach their audience by creating their own channels.
Here are the top 10 most popular branded podcasts according to Apple Podcasts reviews and ratings:
Should employees listen to podcasts at work?
Although our work routines have changed and we no longer have commutes, podcast listening continues to see the YOY increase of previous years.
While some worry about the impact this may have on productivity, many employees find podcasts to be a welcome respite from having had less social interaction during the lockdown period. 47% would rather be back in the office in some capacity, 67% say coronavirus has had a negative impact on their mental health and 15% are lonely while working from home. Many companies, including Instant Offices, have invested in providing employees with free podcasts to support them with issues like stress, wellness and health during this time.
Additionally, professional development podcasts provide inspiration and motivation to those looking to enhance their careers and give their workflow a boost. Listening to podcasts has been shown to stimulate the brain, release feel-good chemicals and give productivity a boost.
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