The relationship between commuting time and workers’ utility

Abstract

Numerous studies have looked at the multitude of aspects affecting the utility workers gain from their job. Within these studies, a common proxy for utility is job satisfaction, measured as a self-reported score. A variable often neglected within this research has been commuting time and modes of transport. This article utilizes a unique survey conducted in a UK city region and analyses the effect of commuting time and mode of transport on self-reported job satisfaction. Two cohorts of respondents are constructed based upon income levels, thus establishing the offsetting effect of income on commute. The study finds that commuting time has a negative effect on the utility of workers. However, the effect is found to be income dependent, with those earning the most having no negative effect from commuting time. Using a number of modes of transport is found to not have an effect on the utility of workers.

Commuting spillover: A systematic review and agenda for research

“…Similarly, whether longer commutes associate with lower job satisfaction appears to depend on factors such as whether employees believe they are paid inappropriately (Robles, 2018) or whether employees are engaged in knowledge work (Torrent‐Sellens et al, 2018). These boundary conditions may explain inconsistencies in detecting a commuting–job satisfaction relationship that we observed across the history of this research theme (Clark et al, 2019; Crawley, 2014; Novaco et al, 1990; Sarver, 2017).…”

“…However, statistical power considerations may also underlie the lack of clarity in a bivariate commuting–job satisfaction relationship, as sample sizes have typically been much larger in studies in which an association has been detected ( N = 682–26,551; Clark et al, 2019; Crawley, 2014; Koslowsky & Krausz, 1993; Robles, 2018; Torrent‐Sellens et al, 2018) than in studies in which this potential co‐variation has not been supported ( N = 82–284; Novaco et al, 1990; Sarver, 2017). This suggests that the magnitude of the relationship of commuting experiences with job satisfaction may be rather modest and thus difficult to detect at smaller sample sizes.…”

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Research Agenda Item 6: Compare the relative contributions of strain‐ and time‐based commuting demands in predicting work criteria.

The implications of commuting for job satisfaction are perhaps the least clear among the research themes we identified, despite having the most studies devoted to this topic. Specifically, a commuting–job satisfaction relationship has been observed inconsistently (Clark et al, 2019; Crawley, 2014; Novaco et al, 1990; Sarver, 2017), although this relationship is supported within select commuting and occupational contexts (e.g., car commuters, employees perceiving their pay to be inappropriate, and knowledge‐based workers; Koslowsky & Krausz, 1993; Robles, 2018; Torrent‐Sellens et al, 2018). This area of commuting spillover research would clearly benefit from a comprehensive accounting of what specific features of and reactions to the commute are relevant to job satisfaction.…”

The commuting behaviour of self‐employed workers: Evidence for Spain

“…The British case is also studied by Dickerson, Hole and Munford () who, in contrast to previous studies, found evidence that a longer commute has a negative impact on leisure time satisfaction, but not on life satisfaction. Lastly, in his study for Cardiff, Crawley () finds that commuting time has a negative impact on job satisfaction regardless of the mode of transport used, with the exception of workers with higher incomes. In a novel approach, this paper focuses on the impact of commuting on job and housing satisfaction differentiating between self‐employed individuals and employees, providing thus new evidence on the effects of commuting for self‐employed workers, a group not considered by the previous literature.…”

Urban commuting behavior and time allocation among women: Evidence from US metropolitan areas

“…Sakanishi () discovered significant disparities in time allocation including commuting time and employment patterns between sexes because of differences in household duties. Crawley () indicated that commuting time adversely influences workers' utility. Swärdh and Algers () presented both spouses in two‐earner households evaluate the value of wife's commuting time higher than that of husband because women undertake greater responsibility for household tasks.…”