When Workers Can Live Anywhere, Many Ask: Why Do I Live Here?

The Wall Street Journal states that "the coronavirus is challenging the assumption that Americans must stay physically tethered to traditionally hot job markets . . . to access the best work opportunities." Several months into the crisis, many workers find themselves in jobs that, at least for now, will allow them to work from anywhere. This, in turn, has created a wave of movement nationwide. Many newly remote workers are moving closer to family, giving up on leases they can't afford, or chasing opportunities in different locales. Americans in April were relocating at twice the pace they did a year prior, according to Cuebiq data, and continued to move at an elevated rate through mid-May. Telecommuting is fueling many of the moves, with more and more employers giving their employees permanent permission to detach themselves from the office.