COVID-19 And Residents’ Journey-To-Work

This San Joaquin County Spotlight discusses the implications of the pandemic on how San Joaquin County resident’s journey-to-work, including the propensity to work from home, and related impacts on migration, commuting, and housing. The report finds that the share of workers in San Joaquin County working from home nearly tripled after the onset of the pandemic. This growth in remote work seemingly has important implications for future socio-economic development.

Remote work has increased the most in areas with higher incomes and less poverty, according to the report, suggesting a new dimension to social and economic equity. The report also identifies recent literature bringing attention to the potential impacts of remote work on the social structure of cities and housing expenditures, such as an increase in inter-regional integration and the potential for in-migration of educated and skilled labor, which could create challenges for lower wage workers currently residing in the county. The report notes that as remote work becomes more common, it may also impact sales and property tax revenues, incomes, and strategies to develop and sustain job centers.