Explaining the changing gender and parenthood gap in working from home in Austria (2019–2024)

This study examines the changing gender gap in working from home between 2019 and 2024 in Austria with an emphasis on parenthood status. We consider both worker characteristics (e.g. occupational status, full- vs. part-time employment) and workplace- and sector-level contexts (e.g. workplace size, prevalence of remote work in the industry). Using the Austrian Labour Force Surveys, we apply linear probability models and decomposition analyses. The results reveal that the gender gap in Austria shifted from a male advantage to no significant gender differences in 2020 and remained absent thereafter. A key factor is that working from home expanded unevenly across occupations, rising most among female clerical support workers. We further show that gender differences mask differences by parenthood status: In 2024, there are significant gaps between childless men and women as well as between childless women and mothers. Notably, working from home increased most among childless women. The significantly higher prevalence of working from home compared to mothers and childless men can be mainly explained by their characteristics: Childless women more often hold higher-status positions, are higher educated, work full-time, and live in urban areas.