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Time Use, College Attainment, and The Working-from-Home Revolution

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  • Benjamin W. Cowan

Abstract

I demonstrate that the profound change in working from home (WFH) in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is concentrated among individuals with college degrees. Relative to 2015-19, the number of minutes worked from home on “post-pandemic” (August 2021-December 2022) weekdays increased by 78 minutes for college graduates; for non-graduates, it was 22 minutes. The share of work done at home (for those who worked at all) increased by 22% for graduates and 7% for non-graduates. Average minutes worked changed little for either group. Daily time spent traveling (e.g., commuting) fell by 21 minutes for college graduates and 6 minutes for non-graduates. I examine how time-use patterns change for college graduates relative to non-graduates over the same period. College graduates experience a relative shift from eating out to eating at home, an increase in free time, and an increase in time spent with children, with the latter effect being concentrated among fathers. Thus, while the gender gap in childcare among college graduates may be diminished by the WFH revolution, gaps in children’s outcomes by parents’ college attainment may be exacerbated by it.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin W. Cowan, 2023. "Time Use, College Attainment, and The Working-from-Home Revolution," NBER Working Papers 31439, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:31439
    Note: CH HE LS
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions

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