Covid-19, Occupational Social Distancing and Remote Working Potential: An Occupation, Sector and Regional Perspective

Abstract 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