Factors Influencing Work from Home Decisions Among Workers in the Philippines

Date

5-2025

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Economics

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Ma. Janda Ira Felina M. Benedictos

Committee Member

Divine Krizza P. Cruz, Gideon P. Carnaje, Ma. Angeles O. Catelo

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For non-UP researchers, requests for access to this material may be directed to the CEM Library at cemlibrary.uplb@up.edu.ph or to the UKDR administrator at uscs-mainlib.uplb@up.edu.ph

Abstract

In the post-pandemic labor landscape, work from home (WFH) arrangements have emerged as a significant yet unevenly distributed feature of employment in the Philippines. This study investigates the demographic, socioeconomic, and organizational factors influencing Filipino workers' likelihood of engaging in remote work using data from the July 2023 Labor Force Survey. Anchored on the Random Utility Theory and Household Production Model, the study employed descriptive statistics, binary logit regression, and ordinary least regression to explore who is more likely to work from home, and to compare the differences in basic pay and working hours per day between remote and on-site workers.

Findings reveal that only around 5% of Filipino workers are engaged in WFH or hybrid arrangements. Three binary logit regression models were executed and revealed that sex, marital status, educational attainment, basic pay per day, industry and sector affiliation, and nature of employment were significant predictors of WFH engagement. More specifically, female, college-educated, single, and higher-paid workers, especially those in the private sector and services or manufacturing industries and have additional employment, were more likely to work remotely.

Further analysis using OLS shows that remote workers earn ₱67.44 more per day and work about 20 minutes less per day on average compared to on-site workers. Importantly, the study problematizes the notion of remote work as a self-determined participation. Telework decisions are not purely matters of individual agency but are deeply shaped—and often constrained—by occupational design, industry-specific demands, and employer-imposed conditions. In reality, Filipino workers face a labor market where remote work is often out of reach, especially for those in low-paid, manual, or informal roles. Thus, these findings underscore that WFH remains a privilege shaped by systemic inequalities, calling attention to the deeper structural conditions that influence access to flexible work in the Philippines.

Language

English

LC Subject

Flexible work arrangements, Telecommuting, Labor supply, Decision making—Economic aspects

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2025 E2 N35

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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