Perth tops nation in return to office

Perth office workers are returning to the office at a faster rate than other capitals, as new research from CBRE shows that the city is back to 91 per cent of pre-COVID levels.

The research, which compared office occupancy rates in the third quarter of this year with levels in 2019, found that the nation’s CBD occupancy rate was at 71 per cent of pre-COVID levels.

This was well above the national rate of 54 per cent recorded 12 months ago.

On peak days, Perth’s occupancy reached 94 per cent in the recent quarter.

Adelaide was second to Perth at 85 per cent, followed by Sydney and Brisbane at 75 per cent of pre-COVID levels.

CBRE Australian head of office research Tom Broderick said the results showed that a growing number of employers were succeeding with measures to draw workers back to the office.

“Companies and employees alike are acknowledging the importance of face-to-face collaboration and the synergy it brings to their operations,” he said.   

“Every major CBD market in Australia has recorded increased occupancy rates over the past 12 months, with the smaller markets of Perth and Adelaide having rebounded impressively, nearing pre-pandemic levels on peak days.”

Adelaide’s office occupancy on peak days reached 88 per cent.

Mr Broderick said Perth and Adelaide had both benefitted from fewer lockdowns during COVID, which meant working from home had become less ingrained in these cities.

Property Council of Australia’s most recent office occupancy report was conducted in February last year, when the figure was at 81 per cent of pre-COVID levels.

The Property Council stopped conducting its office occupancy survey this year, to focus its efforts on other tasks.

“During the pandemic our office occupancy survey became a regular and useful snapshot of the health of our capital city CBDs,” a Property Council of Australia WA Division spokesperson said. 

“Having conduced the survey for the three years since the pandemic began, the Property Council’s research team is returning to its regular program of work.”