While slightly more men returned to the office between 2023 and 2024, the share of women working from home held steady, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
In 2024, 29% of men worked from home, down from 34% the previous year, according to a June 26 news release from the bureau. By comparison, about 36% of women worked remotely in both 2023 and 2024.
Women also spent more time on household activities — including cooking, housework, lawn care and home management. On an average day in 2024, 87% of women and 74% of men engaged in such activities. Women spent 2.7 hours a day on them, compared to 2.3 hours for men.
While flexibility can benefit working parents, researchers say remote work may come at a cost for women’s career growth, The Wall Street Journal reported July 13. Women working remotely tend to receive less feedback than men in similar roles, according to Emma Harrington, PhD, an assistant economics professor at the University of Virginia.
Dr. Harrington, who co-authored related research, told the Journal that women are also less likely than male peers to ask questions when working from home.
