Abstract
In contemporary society ICTs play a key role in providing access to work. Nevertheless, work accessibility measurements incorporating ICTs are still limited: the focus lies mostly on the physical (transport-related) component. This study develops an original model that integrates accessibility to work opportunities in the physical, virtual and hybrid spaces into a Composite Accessibility indicator (CAi). For this purpose, key factors that influence virtual work accessibility are considered, namely the availability of digital infrastructures, work opportunities that allow remote work and their costs. These factors are combined with those included in physical accessibility measurements, i.e. the attractiveness of work opportunities at location and the transport impedance involved in reaching them. Finally, the model develops an Accessibility Comparison index, which allows the calculating and visualising of the differences of CAi compared to a traditional physical indicator. The model is applied to the Local Labour System in the Province of Cuneo, a mainly rural and mountainous area in north-western Italy. The study provides two main findings: first, work accessibility via ICTs still plays a minor role compared to the physical one, due to the only partial development of digital infrastructures and opportunities of remote work. Second, CAi provides the most varied results compared to a traditional indicator in the remote municipalities, according to their degree of digital-infrastructural coverage and physical isolation. This study provides a methodological contribution for evaluating the development of accessibility in the physical and virtual spaces and a contribution for policymakers to deal with the urban/rural accessibility divide.