Telework and occupational segregation in Europe

Occupational segregation between men and women and between rural and urban areas is a persistent driver of labor market inequality in Europe. Women and rural workers are often overrepresented in lower-paid and lower-status occupations, reflecting structural barriers to occupational mobility. This paper investigates how occupational segregation varies across gender, space, and telework status and examines the potential of telework to reduce these inequalities. Using microdata from the 2023 European Labor Force Survey, we calculate segregation indices to measure occupational segregation and monetary gains, as well as losses due to segregation. We further analyze the relationship of segregation and telework. We find the highest segregation and economic disadvantages due to segregation for rural men. Female teleworkers are less clustered in feminized roles compared to non-teleworking women, suggesting that remote work can broaden occupational opportunities. Telework shows reduced segregation when primarily working remotely, but not in hybrid settings. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of spatial and gendered labor market disparities. We further identify the potential of telework to promote a more equitable occupational integration across gender and space.