College Degrees Unlock Flexible Opportunities for Workers, but Disparities Remain Prevalent

Four years after the pandemic upended the American workplace, a new status quo has emerged, with remote and hybrid work arrangements becoming highly influential in the workforce.  

Data from the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey estimates that roughly 14 million workers now follow a hybrid schedule — while another 15 million work entirely remotely. However, the shift towards remote work has not been evenly distributed across the workforce’s many demographics.  

Remote work seems to be a privileged opportunity mainly available for those with college degrees. According to a report published by The New York Times, college-educated individuals, particularly those with bachelor’s or graduate degrees, are more likely to enjoy the flexibility of working from home than those without them.  

Notably, the share of remote workers by age differs greatly as well, with less than 5% of individuals under 25 not working remotely or in hybrid work settings. Meanwhile other age groups are more widely represented as either remote or hybrid workers.  

Younger workers, once thought to be the most resistant to returning to the office, are now embracing in-person work more than their older colleagues. According to the New York Times, this trend holds true even among college graduates — suggesting that the benefits of socialization, mentorship, and in-person collaboration with supervisors may outweigh the allure of remote work for this demographic. 

Gender also plays a role in remote work patterns. The data suggests that women are more likely to work remotely than men. This disparity is partly due to the higher percentage of women holding college degrees and working in professional roles that allow for flexible arrangements. However, among college-educated workers, the remote work gender gap narrows, with men slightly more likely to work remotely than women.  

The exception to this trend is mothers with young children, who appear to be leveraging workplace flexibility more than their male counterparts. Additionally, the data reveals that white and Asian workers are more represented within the remote workforce, while Hispanic and Black workers are underrepresented. 

The normalization of remote work has also created opportunities for workers with disabilities, particularly those who benefit from eliminating energy-draining commutes and accommodating their needs. A report published by The Wall Street Journal last November reveals that nearly 1.8 million people with disabilities have entered the U.S. labor force since the onset of the pandemic. However, these gains are primarily associated with fully remote work rather than hybrid arrangements.