Using Mobile Device Activity Data to Study Local Variation in Onsite Work

Mobile device location data suitable for a variety of research and commercial purposes have become increasingly available. We use these data to provide new evidence on the evolution of onsite work (OSW) following the pandemic. In one analysis, we start with a large sample of individuals who, based on their mobile device activity, had a job at which they worked onsite in February 2020, then track those individuals’ onsite work activity in May and August 2020. We then carry out a parallel analysis for 2019 and compare the persistence in OSW across the two time periods. In a second analysis, we analyze the ratio of measured OSW activity in September 2020, September 2021 and September 2022 to measured OSW activity in February 2020. In both analyses, we work with Census-tract-level estimates, documenting considerable cross-tract variation in OSW outcomes nationally, within states and cities, and even within counties. Observable characteristics such as industry, occupation, and household income in the tract account for much of the observed variation, but there is also substantial unexplained residual variation. Our results imply considerable heterogeneity in how the pandemic affected where the resident populations of US neighborhoods spend their days, a finding that has significant implications for businesses, workers, and policymakers. We use this study of the evolution of OSW following the pandemic to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of mobile device location data for tracking economic activity.