Among the many lasting effects of COVID-19 — one that has received little attention — is its potential to disrupt economic development. The pandemic introduced the world to remote work almost overnight. When those workers proved they could be productive, they triggered a secondary trend: realization by city and state governments that those remote workers represent an entirely new paradigm for economic development.

MakeMyMove CEO Bill Oesterle writes about the economic opportunities created by Covid-19 and the remote work culture. As geographically free agents, remote workers are attractive recruits for small communities seeking to increase their tax base and talent pool.

COVID-19 offers remote workers and small communities big economic opportunities

By Bill Oesterle

Remote workers add a person to the population and a job to the job base. Due to COVID, talent-first economic development is finally a practical reality.