1/ This chart tracks U.S. telework rates by gender from 2019 to 2025, and it tells a clear story about how remote work reshaped the labor market during and after the pandemic.
2/ In 2019, telework was relatively rare. Only 8.0 percent of employed women and 6.5 percent of employed men reported working remotely. That changed dramatically in 2020. Telework surged to 27.4 percent for women and 23.5 percent for men as businesses shifted operations online in response to public health restrictions. The spike represents one of the fastest structural changes in modern work history.
3/ After 2020, telework rates gradually declined but never returned to pre pandemic levels. By 2022 and 2023, rates settled in the low to mid 20 percent range. Women consistently maintained slightly higher telework participation than men. In 2024, women reached 24.9 percent compared with 21.1 percent for men, suggesting that flexible arrangements may remain more prevalent in sectors with higher female employment.
4/ By 2025, telework appears to have stabilized. The rates, 22.5 percent for women and 19.8 percent for men, indicate that remote work is no longer an emergency response but a lasting feature of the labor market. The persistent gap between genders may reflect occupational differences, caregiving responsibilities, or employer flexibility policies.
5/ Overall, the data suggests that while the extreme pandemic peak has passed, remote work remains structurally embedded in the U.S. economy. Employers and policymakers may need to consider long term implications for productivity, workforce participation, and gender equity as telework continues to evolve.
Dataset
Data Source
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey, Telework Data 2019–2025.
https://www.bls.gov/cps/