- Office foot traffic rose nearly 5% year-over-year in October, but overall visits remain 30% below pre-pandemic levels.
- Hybrid job postings increased while both fully remote and fully in-office listings declined slightly in Q3, per Robert Half.
- More companies are meeting attendance goals, with employees now averaging 3.2 days per week in the office.
- The US office market absorbed 16M SF in Q3, lowering the national vacancy rate to 18.8%, according to CBRE.
More Workers Returning—But Mostly Midweek
Office traffic rose 5% year-over-year in October across the US, according to new data from Placer.ai, per Bisnow. However, this growth remains uneven throughout the week, with the highest foot traffic still concentrated between Tuesday and Thursday.
Though visits are still 30% below 2019 levels, the continued upward trend suggests hybrid work models are here to stay. This comes despite resistance to mandatory return-to-office policies from some employees.
Hybrid Work Edges Out Remote
Robert Half data shows hybrid job postings rose 1% in Q3, while fully remote listings declined by 1%. Fully in-office positions also dipped slightly, indicating employers are increasingly favoring flexible arrangements over both extremes.
Major employers like Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, and Samsung have pushed for more frequent in-office attendance. However, five-day mandates remain the exception.
Get Smarter about what matters in CRE
Stay ahead of trends in commercial real estate with CRE Daily – the free newsletter delivering everything you need to start your day in just 5-minutes
Companies Hitting Attendance Goals
More employers say they’re meeting attendance targets. According to CBRE’s latest occupier survey, 72% of firms hit their attendance benchmarks in 2025, up from 61% the previous year. On average, employees are showing up to the office 3.2 days per week.
This behavioral shift is helping support the broader office market recovery. In Q3, companies absorbed 16M SF of office space, pushing overall vacancy down to 18.8%, per CBRE data.
Looking Ahead
Fully remote opportunities are becoming scarcer as hybrid work gains traction. Office buildings may continue seeing modest foot traffic increases. This trend could grow if more companies prioritize flexibility while keeping some in-person attendance.
