Perth office occupancy highest in nation

Perth’s CBD office occupancy has rebounded to 80 per cent of pre-COVID levels, the highest occupancy rate in the country, Property Council figures show.

The city’s office occupancy has increased steadily since April this year, when it was at 50 per cent of pre-COVID levels.

The Property Council’s November data shows Perth’s office occupancy rate lifted by 2 per cent on the previous month to be just 1 per cent lower than the same time last year.

On average, office occupancy rates across Australia's capital cities were at about 65 per cent in November. 

Workers are returning to work at increasing rates in Melbourne, where office occupancy showed the largest increase, from 45 per cent in October to 57 per cent last month.

Brisbane also saw a boost to its office worker foot traffic, with a 67 per cent rate, while Sydney edged up 1 per cent to 59 per cent.

Adelaide’s November office occupancy reduced slightly from 76 to 74 per cent, while Canberra’s decreased from 57 per cent to 52 per cent.

On peak days, Perth’s office occupancy rate reached 88 per cent.

Source: Property Council of Australia 

Property Council of Australia WA Division executive director Sandra Brewer said the results showed that despite flexible working arrangements, workers were still drawn to the CBD.

"If the past two years have taught us anything, it's that flexible work is here to stay, but an 80 per cent occupancy rate in our CBD highlights not only there are far more workers in the CBD than at home, but the Perth CBD is a place that workers want to be," she said.

Ms Brewer chalked the result down to a boost in Perth’s hospitality and retail venues, to the Premier’s encouragement to the public sector to continue working in the CBD and the City of Perth’s leadership.

She said the state’s affordable housing and high median wages were among the factors enticing workers to move to Western Australia.

"The only thing that will hold back WA's prosperity is the lack of workers,” she said.

City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas said the numbers, which outstripped all other capital cities, showed workers and employers’ support for the City.
 
“These numbers represent a huge victory for Perth - a victory for positivity, a victory for teamwork and a victory for celebrating our City and all of the reasons to be in it, not at home,” he said.