Third-highest weekly figure for UK office occupancy since the start of the pandemic

Research from Remit Consulting has revealed that average office occupancy levels reached 34.7 per cent last week, the third-highest weekly figure recorded since the start of the pandemic with an increase of 3.6 percentage points from the previous week.

The national average was boosted by London’s West End market, with a weekly average occupancy rate of 61.9 per cent, outperforming the City and Docklands markets, which recorded 31.1 per cent and 40.6 per cent respectively.

Lorna Landells of Remit Consulting commented: “The improved figures follow a week that saw some industrial action on the railways, and we have previously recorded uplifts in the figures following rail strikes as staff try to catch up with time at their desks and face-to-face meetings in the office.
 
“However, this is a significant improvement on the previous six weeks that saw a national average occupancy rate of offices of 30.8 per cent and will be seen as good news by investors, landlords and those businesses reliant on trade from office workers such as retailers and food & beverage operators.”
 
Remit Consulting’s data confirms that midweek remains the favoured time for office attendance, with national rates peaking at an average of 43.1 per cent on Tuesday, 40.8 per cent on Wednesday and 39.8 per cent on Thursday, before falling to just 19.9 per cent on Friday 13th.

Research carried out before the pandemic suggested office occupancy rates ranged between 60 per cent and 80 per cent, influenced by elements such as holidays, employee absences, and external meetings.