New report highlights two-sided trend.

 

Despite strong demand for office space across Australia, workers are not showing the same level of enthusiasm for returning to the country’s CBDs.

 

“While demand for space is increasing, the number of actual office workers in our city centres is well below pre-pandemic levels and threatens the ecosystem of cafes, restaurants and retailers that help make our CBDs such special places,”

Property Council of Australia CEO Ken Morrison, said.

 

The latest Office Market Report released by the Property Council of Australia reveals tenant demand rose an average 0.5 per cent across the key office markets in the nation’s capitals.

 

“In a healthy sign for our CBDs, the office market continues to defy previous dire predictions, with demand still in positive territory after nearly three years of the pandemic,” Morrison said.

 

Despite taking a positive view of the latest results, Morrison said that more work needs to be done to ensure a full recovery of the country’s CBD precincts.

 

“The recovery in our CBDs needs to be top of mind for governments and businesses even as we deal with elevated levels of COVID-19 in the community,” he said.