How Flexible, Mobile Workforces Are Impacting Office Space

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ATLANTA—According to globalworkplaceanalytics.com, 3.7 million employees work from home at least half the time. Although that’s just under 3% of the workforce, consider a statistic that puts the trend in context: The employee population as a whole grew by 1.9% from 2013 to 2014, while the telecommuter population grew 5.6%.

That has led to a decline in the average in-office workspace in recent years. Global Workplace Analytics reports the average space per worker ranges between 130 and 150 square feet. That’s down from 200 square feet. The bottom line: Employers are moving more workers into smaller spaces. Put another way, there’s a decreasing demand for traditional office space and a move toward creative office solutions that doesn’t seem to be slowing.