Remote work in rural and peripheral areas: Characteristics, challenges and initiatives to support it

The fast and steady recovery in employment following the COVID-19 pandemic in the EU benefited from proactive policy responses to the crisis and from resilient labour markets. Almost 90% of regions across the EU had exceeded their pre-pandemic employment levels by 2022; however, significant regional disparities remain. EU regions fared differently, depending on their economic specialisation and notably on the concentration of jobs in knowledge-intensive services that can be performed remotely. The geography of telework across EU regions was primarily shaped by differences in occupational structure, and fast internet connectivity remains an essential enabling factor. Recent initiatives to support remote work in rural, peripheral or marginalised areas through the creation of coworking spaces show how dynamism and diversity in rural economies can be promoted.