The authors examine how work from home has evolved from a marginal practice to a central feature of modern labor markets. They show that days worked at home rose from under 1 percent in 1965 to 28 percent of paid days in 2023, with most of that shift persisting after the pandemic. They explore which jobs and workers adopt remote work and how this reshapes wages, productivity, cities, and innovation.
The Evolution of Work From Home
José María Barrero, Nicholas Bloom, Steven Davis
Research
28 Pages
Key Takeaways
Work from home shift: Full days at home climbed from under 1 percent of paid workdays in 1965 to roughly 28 percent by 2023.
Who works remotely: Remote intensity is highest in information, finance, and professional services and lowest in retail, hospitality, transportation, and manufacturing.
Labor markets and productivity: Remote work changes labor supply, compresses some wage gaps, complicates mentoring, and may affect long run innovation in cities.