Working from home increases work–home distances

Bibliographic Data

ID11080926
AuthorsSena Coskun (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg), Wolfgang Dauth (0000-0002-4269-6910, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt und Berufsforschung, corresponding author), Hermann Gartner (0000-0003-1582-3547, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg), Michael Stops (0000-0002-8620-6338, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt und Berufsforschung), Enzo Weber (0000-0002-9869-3524, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt und Berufsforschung)
Year2026
Volume152
Pages103832
Publication date2026-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Urban Economics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0094-1190 • E-ISSN: 1095-9068
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.jue.2026.103832
OpenAlexW7125441622
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited23

This paper examines how the increased acceptance of working from home during and after the Covid-19 pandemic shapes how labor market and locality choices interact. We combine large administrative data on employment biographies in Germany and a new working from home potential indicator based on comprehensive data on working conditions across occupations. We find that, in the wake of the pandemic, the distance between workplace and residence has increased more strongly for workers in occupations that can be done from home: The association of working from home potential and work–home distance increased significantly since 2021 as compared to a stable pattern before. The effect is much larger for new jobs, suggesting that people match to jobs with high working from home potential that are further away than before the pandemic. Most of this effect stems from jobs in big cities, which indicates that working from home alleviates constraints by tight housing markets. We find no significant evidence that commuting patterns changed more strongly for women than for men

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Locality · Residence · Work (physics · Working hours · Working life · Place Attachment and Urban Studies · Urban Transport and Accessibility · Work-Family Balance Challenges

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