The global persistence of work from home

Area of Science:

• Labor Economics
• Sociology of Work
• Urban Studies

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a significant global increase in remote work, commonly known as work from home (WFH).
• Post-pandemic, there has been a partial retraction of WFH arrangements, necessitating an understanding of the new equilibrium.
• Understanding the persistence and patterns of WFH is crucial for economic and social policy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the stabilization of work from home (WFH) rates among college-educated employees globally after 2022.
• To quantify the average number of WFH days per week and identify cross-country variations.
• To assess the long-term implications of persistent remote work trends.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Global Survey of Working Arrangements dataset, encompassing numerous countries.
• Analyzed WFH rates and weekly remote work days for college-educated employees.
• Compared WFH prevalence across different economies, focusing on advanced English-speaking countries and Asian economies.

Main Results:

• Average WFH rates for college-educated employees stabilized globally after 2022.
• The average number of WFH days per week remained consistent at approximately one day globally from 2023 to early 2025.
• Significant cross-country variations were observed, with WFH being roughly twice as common in advanced English-speaking economies compared to many Asian economies.

Conclusions:

• The pandemic-induced shift towards remote work has established a new, persistent equilibrium.
• Continued WFH has substantial implications for urban economies, workforce flexibility, and future labor market research.
• Cross-country disparities in WFH adoption underscore the need for nuanced policy approaches.