Abstract

This report investigates regional employment dynamics in Europe before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the subsequent recovery from the crisis. Almost 90% of regions across the EU had exceeded their pre-pandemic employment levels by 2022. However, significant regional disparities in employment rates remain, and employment growth was stronger in more densely populated regions. This depends largely on their economic specialisation and, notably, on the concentration of jobs in knowledge-intensive services which can be performed remotely. The report delves into this, providing new evidence on the evolving geography of telework, differences in the regional occupational structure and internet connectivity, as well as presenting existing initiatives to support remote work in rural areas and boost the dynamism and diversity of their economies.

 

The following working paper is published ahead of the report: Remote work in rural and peripheral areas: Characteristics, challenges and initiatives to support it 

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