Gender differences in the effect of teleworking on job loss during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain

This paper analyzes gender differences regarding the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the likelihood of job loss, differentiating between employment transitions towards unemployment, inactivity and furlough schemes, and the role that teleworking may have had as a protector of job loss in Spain. Based on more than 1,800 types of jobs defined by occupation and economic activity combinations, we propose an Evidence-Based Teleworking Index that considers the intensity of telework use in a given type of job, but also reflects the actual ability of firms to adapt to telework. Using multinomial probit models with sample selection, we found that more women than men suffered job loss during the pandemic. The findings also confirm that the ability to telework has acted as a potential cushion against employment losses, but the effect has been mainly driven by males. The shielding effects of telework have been especially relevant in reducing transitions from employment to furlough schemes, while the power of telework to protect against inactivity and unemployment seems to be much more modest, even during the pandemic. •The COVID-19 confinements provoked more intense job losses among female workers.•Telework has acted as a cushion against employment losses, but the effect has been mainly driven by males.•The shielding effects of telework have been especially relevant in reducing transitions to furlough schemes.•The power of telework to protect against inactivity and unemployment has been much more modest.•An evidence-based approach considers the teleworkability of tasks but also the actual ability of firms to adapt to telework.