World Bank Group World Bank Group
In Partnership with Republic of Korea Ministry of Strategy and Finance

Policy Research Working Paper - Who on Earth Can Work from Home?

Policy Research Working Paper - Who on Earth Can Work from Home?
"Globally, one of every five jobs can be performed from home." This paper presents new estimates of the share of jobs that can be performed from home. The analysis is based on the task content of occupations, their information and communications technology requirements, and the availability of internet access by country and income groupings. Globally, one of every five jobs can be performed from home. The ability to telework is correlated with income. In low-income countries, only one of every 26 jobs can be done from home. Failing to account for internet access yields upward-biased estimates of the resilience of emerging countries, lagging regions, and poor workers. Since better-paid workers are more likely to be able to work from home, COVID-19 is likely to exacerbate inequality, especially in richer countries where better paid and educated workers are insulated from the shock. The overall labor market burden of COVID-19 is bound to be larger in emerging countries, where only a small share of workers can work from home, and social protection systems are weaker. Across the globe, young, poorly educated workers and those on temporary contracts are least likely to be able to work from home and more vulnerable to the labor market shocks from COVID-19. This report is an excerpt from the full report - "Who on Earth Can Work from Home?". You can read the full report HERE. 
  • Learning Mode: 
    Knowledge Note
  • Topics: Pandemics, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Jobs, ICT for Jobs, Information and Communication Technologies, Labor Markets, Social Protection and Labor, Economic Growth, Education, Skills Development and Labor Market, Income Inequality, Access and Connectivity
  • Keywords: 
    COVID-19 impact, Job risk, home-based work, workers skills, agricultural workers, Digital Technology, Internet Access, telework jobs, Telecommutable jobs, market inequality, labor market vulnerability, social protection systems, labor force data, internet availability, Spatial inequality, Gender differences
  • Language: 
    English

Printed on:17 May 2022 - 08:52 PM