Effects on Territorial Dynamics and Labor Commuting During the Pre- and Post-Pandemic Period in Chile

Labor commuting plays a crucial role in the economic and productive development of territories. Additionally, external shocks, such as the COVID-19 health crisis, may induce shifts in regional labor dynamics. This study analyzes changes in the relationship between labor commuting and productive sectors in Chile during the years before and after the COVID-19 crisis, delineating trends by geographic zones. The research is based on microdata from the National Employment and Supplementary Income Survey spanning 2018 to 2022. The main findings indicate that the decline in commuting recorded at the national level in 2020 exhibited distinct patterns across geographic regions and economic sectors. Notably, employment in the mining sector is associated with a higher probability of commuting compared to other sectors; however, this characteristic diminished during the crisis in most of the analyzed zones. Conversely, the traditionally negative correlation between commuting and employment in the agriculture sector weakened in 2020 across all zones, except for Patagonia (the southernmost region of the country). These results demonstrate that external shocks alter labor commuting dynamics across territories, emphasizing the need for public policies that anticipate diverse mobility trends.