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

We use mobile device location data in two ways to study the evolution of onsite work (OSW) following the pandemic. In a first analysis, we start with large samples of individuals who, based on their mobile device activity, worked onsite in either February 2020 or February 2019. Then, we compare the persistence of those individuals’ OSW through May and August of the same year across the two calendar years. In a second analysis, we analyze the ratio of measured OSW in September 2020, September 2021 and September 2022 to measured OSW in February 2020. In both analyses, we document considerable variation in OSW outcomes across Census tracts not only nationally but also within states, cities, and even counties. Our results imply considerable heterogeneity in the effects of the pandemic on where the resident populations of U.S. neighborhoods spend their days. We use our examination of the evolution of OSW following the pandemic to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of mobile device location data for tracking economic activity.