Recent data reveals a sharp decline in office occupancy rates across the United States, with San Francisco experiencing the most significant drop. According to Placer.ai’s January 2025 Office Index, nationwide office visits were down by 40.2% compared to January 2019, prior to the pandemic.
San Francisco’s situation is particularly alarming, showing a staggering 51.8% decrease in office visits. This marks the weakest recovery among major metropolitan areas. From January 23 to January 28, 2025, the city’s office occupancy rate reached only 53.7% on its busiest day, significantly lagging behind cities like Houston and Chicago, which reported rates of 74.8% and 70.4%, respectively.
The decline was most pronounced on Friday, January 24, when office attendance in San Francisco plummeted to 28.5%, the lowest of any major metro tracked. In contrast, cities such as New York and Miami are seeing relatively stronger rebounds, with declines of 19% and 23.5% from pre-pandemic levels.
Data from Placer.ai, which utilizes cellphone location data to estimate foot traffic, and Kastle Systems, which measures access through badge swipes, indicate a significant shift in workplace dynamics. The ongoing trend raises questions about the future of office spaces and the changing landscape of work in urban areas.
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