COVID-19, occupational social distancing and remote working potential: An occupation, sector and regional perspective

A key question regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty around the implications of social distancing measures and remote working is how it will economically impact people and places differently. We generate two indices which capture: (i) social distancing potential; and (ii) remote working potential. This is accomplished using occupational level data from O*NET. The paper identifies that social distancing and remote working potential differs considerably across occupations, sectors and places. At a town level—more affluent, dense and highly populated, better educated, and better broadband provisioned towns have greater potential for social distancing and remote working.