06.03.23
Three years after Corona virus restrictions sent all but essential workers home, restaurants, stores, and schools have largely reopened as before, while offices remain half empty. Data from office security systems provider Kastle Systems shows US office occupancy reached 50.1% last month. Data varies by metro area with office occupancy at 41% in San Jose, 47% in New York, and 66% in Austin. In Europe, real estate services provider Savills’ data showed a similar trend with office occupancy in mid-2022 reaching just 32% in London and 54% in Paris. In Asia, Jones Lang Lasalle data shows office occupancy has returned to 75% in cities like Seoul and Tokyo. According to collaboration software Slack’s global survey of office workers, 49% of employees maintain a hybrid work schedule, 35% have returned to the office full time, and 17% are fully remote. These varied working arrangements impact not only office culture, but also create a challenge for many related services from local cafes to public transit. This week the Daily Sketch will revisit the pandemic’s impact on how we work, live, and play.
Source: Kastle Systems, March 2023