Assessing the link between COVID-19-induced telework adoption and residential relocation in France, the UK, and the US

Abstract

This study examines whether the rise of telework following COVID-19 has led to an increase in relocations, particularly considering the relaxation of proximity constraints between home and workplace. This question is especially relevant for major metropolitan areas , which accommodate a high concentration of telework-compatible jobs and experience strong real estate market pressures. The article explores two key questions: (1) Are teleworkers more likely to have relocated since 2020 and to have a relocation project? (2) Do teleworkers exhibit a greater tendency to relocate or plan a relocation outside metropolitan areas? To address these questions, this study draws on a large-scale survey conducted at the end of 2023 with 15,000 individuals from France, the US, and the UK, focusing on work characteristics and residential mobility since 2020. The findings indicate that while teleworkers have been more likely to relocate since 2020, they do not exhibit stronger intentions to relocate soon. Moreover, their residential trajectories suggest a reinforcement of metropolitan concentration rather than a move away from urban centers, challenging assumptions that telework necessarily leads to suburbanization or increased commuting distances.

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