All else being equal, their lower cost will get them jobs more easily than some expesive fella's "professional network".

Also, even when working remotely, people tend to remember who did a good job and who they collaborated well or has some good skills - and when they start another company, or move to work elsewhere, they can still opt to bring them in, even if they've never gossiped next to the same watercooler.

Respectfully I disagree unless the job is low skill and fungible. Network is far more valuable. Especially local ones.

> I mean having a useful professional network for getting jobs

Why does this need to be local? Even when I was working in the office a good chunk of my professional network wasn't for in the same city as me.

Local networks are just typically stronger. And networks in major cities are typically stronger. It will take a lot of time for this to change. I’m mostly remote but everyone is still attached to a major urban hub.