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Telework in the spread of COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Toshihiro Okubo

    (Faculty of Economics Keio University)

Abstract

In the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), people have been requested to work from home with information and communication technology (ICT) tools, i.e. telework. This paper investigates which factors (infection of COVID-19, individual characteristics, task characteristics, working environments, and COVID-19 countermeasure policies) are associated with telework use in Japan. Using the unique panel survey on telework, we construct occupational indices for teleworkability and the risk exposure to infection. Our estimation finds that although telework use remains low in Japan, educated, high ICTskilled, younger, and female workers who engage in less teamwork and less routine tasks tend to use telework. Working environments such as the richness of IT communication tools, digitalized offices, flexible-hour working systems, and companywide reform for teleworking can all promote telework use.

Suggested Citation

  • Toshihiro Okubo, 2021. "Telework in the spread of COVID-19," Keio-IES Discussion Paper Series 2021-015, Institute for Economics Studies, Keio University.
    • Handle: RePEc:keo:dpaper:2021-015
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    Cited by:

    1. Schouten, Andrew & Kawano, Yoh, 2024. "COVID-19 and the demand for transit access: Residential real estate prices in the Tokyo metropolitan area," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    2. Roberto Carlos Dávila Morán & Eucaris del Carmen Agüero Corzo & Juan Manuel Sánchez Soto & Henri Emmanuel López Gómez, 2022. "Impact of Teleworking on the Health and Well-Being of Peruvian Workers in Times of Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-19, November.
    3. Oliver Kovacs, 2022. "Inclusive Industry 4.0 in Europe—Japanese Lessons on Socially Responsible Industry 4.0," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-26, January.
    4. Kuai, Wenjing & Elliott, Robert J. R. & Okubo, Toshihiro & Ozgen, Ceren, 2025. "Estimating the Green Wage Premium," IZA Discussion Papers 17878, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Okubo, Toshihiro, 2022. "Traveling and eating out during the COVID-19 pandemic: The Go To campaign policies in Japan," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    6. NGWIRA Vitumbiko Andrew & SOKO Yohane Mwenecho, 2024. "The Evolving Landscape Of Remote Work. A Critical Review Of Challenges And Emerging Trends In Remote Work," Management of Sustainable Development, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 16(2), pages 89-98, December.
    7. Takuya Ishino & Yoichi Mizumura & Kazuto Sumita & Takuya Yoshida & Norifumi Yukutake, 2022. "Impact of Teleworking on Childcare Time During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Owner-Occupied Housing," International Real Estate Review, Global Social Science Institute, vol. 25(4), pages 423-460.
    8. Lina Bjerke & Steven Bond-Smith & Philip McCann & Charlotta Mellander, 2024. "Work-from-home, relocation, and shadow effects: Evidence from Sweden," Working Papers 2024-3, University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
    9. de la Torre-Ruiz, José Manuel & Ferrón-Vílchez, Vera, 2024. "Determinants of managerial perceptions of the impact of telework: The effect of information communication technology support, trust, and frequency of communication," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    10. Lee, Kangoh, 2023. "Working from home as an economic and social change: A review," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    11. Carlos A. Arbelaez-Velasquez & Diana Giraldo & Santiago Quintero, 2022. "Analysis of a Teleworking Technology Adoption Case: An Agent-Based Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-14, August.
    12. Tanaka, Kiyoyasu, 2023. "What hinders digital communication? Evidence from foreign firms in Japan," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    13. Toshihiro Okubo & Ilan Noy, 2024. "Vaccination Decisions and Social Capital in Japan," CESifo Working Paper Series 11540, CESifo.
    14. Lina Bjerke & Steven Bond-Smith & Philip McCann & Charlotta Mellander, 2025. "Work-from-home, relocation, and shadow effects: Evidence from Sweden," Working Papers 2025-1, University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
    15. Toshihiro Okubo, 2024. "Non‐routine tasks and ICT tools in telework," LABOUR, CEIS, vol. 38(2), pages 177-202, June.
    16. Hiina Domae & Masataka Nakayama & Kosuke Takemura & Yasushi Watanabe & Matthias S. Gobel & Yukiko Uchida, 2024. "Antecedents and consequences of telework during the COVID-19 pandemic: a natural experiment in Japan," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    17. Tomiura, Eiichi & Kumanomido, Hiroshi, 2023. "Impacts of inter-firm relations on the adoption of remote work: Evidence from a survey in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    18. Claudiu George Bocean & Luminita Popescu & Anca Antoaneta Varzaru & Costin Daniel Avram & Anica Iancu, 2023. "Work-Life Balance and Employee Satisfaction during COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-15, July.
    19. Yoko Ibuka & Haruo Kakehi & Ryuki Kobayashi & Ryo Nakajima, 2024. "The effect of staying at home on suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic," Keio-IES Discussion Paper Series 2024-004, Institute for Economics Studies, Keio University.

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    JEL classification:

    • J50 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - General

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