Office space downsizing trend appears to be past peak

The office space downsizing trend may be past its peak, according to a CBRE survey of 225 companies with offices in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America.

Just 37% of companies plan to shrink their office space this year compared to 57% last year, the survey found. In addition, more companies plan to expand their office space over the next several years with 38% planning to do so, compared to 20% a year ago.

Some companies may have trimmed too much space in recent years, CBRE says.

“An 18-percentage-point, year-over-year increase in companies anticipating expansion of their office footprints is a significant step toward a return to growth,” says Manish Kashyap, CBRE Global President of Advisory & Transaction Services. “It bodes well for a U.S. office market, which has faced many challenges in recent years. There remains a segment of demand where companies are opting to renew their leases to forego the costs of moving, but there is now a change in sentiment favoring expansion.”

Most companies say office attendance is holding steady. Companies looking to relocate are interested in upgraded space, such as a better location, better quality space or improved employee experience.