Teleworking and Job Quality in Latin American Countries: A Comparison from an Impact Approach in 2021

Abstract

This article studies the relationship between teleworking and job quality in 2021 for reference countries in Latin America, namely, Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia. Teleworking is an increasingly important alternative line of work; hence, it is relevant to investigate its influence on the quality of jobs. To this end the following points are addressed: (i) the definitions of teleworking and job quality are conceptually reviewed; (ii) the relationships between both concepts are identified in the literature; (iii) a comparable job quality index is constructed for each of the countries studied using factorial analysis, ensuring the objective nature of the data is considered rather than preconceived judgments; and (iv) the characteristics of job quality and the constructed index are compared in a controlled manner using a propensity score matching model. This research finds that teleworkers, compared to other workers with similar observable characteristics, have higher labor income in Colombia and Argentina. In addition, teleworkers work fewer hours per week and have similar levels of job stability across the three countries. Regarding teleworkers in Brazil and Colombia, a gap in social security coverage is observed and needs to be addressed.