Publication: Who on Earth Can Work from Home?
Date
2020-07
ISSN
Published
2020-07
Author(s)
Garrote Sanchez, Daniel
Gomez Parra, Nicolas
Viollaz, Mariana
Abstract
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
poor 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
poor 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.
Citation
“Garrote Sanchez, Daniel; Gomez Parra, Nicolas; Ozden, Caglar; Rijkers, Bob; Viollaz, Mariana; Winkler, Hernan. 2020. Who on Earth Can Work from Home?. Policy Research Working Paper;No. 9347. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/34277 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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