How did the COVID-19 Pandemic Impact the Location and Duration of Work Activities? A Latent Class Time-Use Study

Abstract

We investigate the variation in location and time allocated to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from the American Time Use Survey (2019-2020) was modeled using a latent-class multiple discrete-continuous model. Two main segments of individuals who suffered different impacts from the pandemic on their work arrangements were identified. Men, young adults, and less educated individuals with lower-mid-income were often unable to transfer work into a residential setting, showing a reduction in work opportunities. Women, middle-aged, highly educated, and high-income individuals were prone to an increase in total hours worked when substituting out-of-home work with at-home work, showing productivity loss.