Knowledge compilation

The Impact of Remote Work on Gender Equality in the Labour Market - A literature review

Background

Gender equality in the labour market has long been a central social policy issue. The COVID -19 pandemic brought major changes to the labour market, not least through the widespread shift to remote work for organizations and individuals who had the possibility to do so. Even after the pandemic, many employees have chosen and been given the opportunity to continue working remotely. Naturally, this radical change raises questions about how gender equality in working life is affected.

Analysis Report

The analysis report examines whether increased remote work has reduced the gender gap in weekly working hours between women and men and whether any potential effects are particularly pronounced among parents of young children. The analyses are based on data from Statistics Sweden’s (SCB) Labor Force Surveys (LFS) for the period 2016–2024 and include employed women and men aged 20–64. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal (panel) data are used to identify potential correlations and causal relationships.

Authors

The analysis report was written by Karin Halldén, Associate Professor at the Swedish Institute for Social Research, Stockholm University.

The accompanying knowledge compilation was written by Lena Grip, Associate Professor of Human Geography, Department of Geography, Media and Communication at Karlstad University, and Ulrika Åkerlund, PhD in Human Geography, Department of Geography, Media and Communication at Karlstad University.