Occupancy Index - May 1

Comments –

It is clear from the data that even the sporadic voluntary return by individuals has lessened and those that do come in are coming in for pressing issues and not staying. The office sector in Downtown Toronto is listening to governments and experts. Although the Index is at its lowest point the numbers are different from the early stages of the pandemic. Most of the return is not regular 9 to 5 - 5 day a week in office attendance and therefore, more difficult to calculate, a sign of the future perhaps.

SRRA is conducting research on the mid term impact of COVID on growth and competitiveness on the region and will start posting point form results of that work in the months ahead. What is clear is landlords and employers are well positioned to accept employees back when government guidelines and pandemic experts are supportive, what isn’t clear is how the public will accept transit to return to office jobs in the downtown… stay safe - the SRRA team

Links to Articles of Interest

Lessons in future competitiveness for the GTA from London?

Is the UK opening Pandora’s Box with move to examine “right to work at home”?

Hybrid work arrangements, better integrated with all digital communication channels the way of the future?

 Advocates for benefits of an exciting office environment put digital nomadism into perspective

 All-in opposition to all-remote working

Toronto Life focuses on the positive aspects of working downtown – must read for true believers hoping to remind people how life used to be

 This is a hopeful take on the future of downtowns