More than usage: expanding socioeconomic inequality in access to remote work after COVID-19 in Japan

Abstract Since the COVID-19 outbreak, there has been renewed interest in remote work. While socioeconomic gap in remote work usage is well-studied, little is known about a key underlying aspect of inequality: access to remote work. Using Japanese panel data from January 2020 to 2024, this study examines the evolution of class and education gaps in access, distinguishing between active use (“access and use”) and potential use (“access but non-use”) among access. Results show that higher-class and more-educated workers experienced a greater increase in “access and use,” a trend that peaked mid-pandemic. In addition, while the class gap in “access but non-use” grew steadily, the education gap did not. While task differences partially explain the increased class gap in “access and use,” they do not explain the remaining education or class gaps. The findings suggest that formal access has become an institutionalized workplace policy and an established benefit for advantaged workers.