Coworking spaces have become incredibly popular in recent years, with US-based coworking offices growing in numbers from around 4000 locations in 2017 to over 6200 in 2022.
There are several key benefits to the use of coworking offices that contribute heavily to this popularity, from more flexibility for workers to greater networking opportunities, but what’s it like to work in these offices in 2023?
Though the idea to optimize the use of office space in a coworking format may have been around for a few decades now, it’s the growing numbers of remote and hybrid workers we see today that’s really brought coworking offices to the mainstream. To understand how these flexible offices are continuing to shape modern businesses, here’s a selection of major trends in the coworking space industry.
Technology Is Key
Flexible and remote workers considering the use of coworking spaces are increasingly looking for offices that can provide advanced technology solutions. Beyond the expected, fast, and secure Wi-Fi connections that staff need to complete their work, modern coworking spaces are expected to offer smart technology solutions to improve efficiency and productivity as well as physical and cyber security.
More than 90% of surveyed millennial and Gen Z workers claim that their offices do not provide the necessary technology they require to do their jobs effectively, with many turning towards coworking spaces to bridge that gap, meaning coworking offices equipped with integrated systems such as touchless access control and cloud-based management portals are becoming increasingly desirable.
By merging essential systems like room reservation software, conferencing equipment, and HVAC units with physical security technology like access controls, staff can manage property access, book facilities and adjust utilities all from a single smartphone application. Coworking spaces offering these integrations can provide a much more convenient and efficient workspace than any traditional office.
Workers Are Looking For Community
In recent years, much has been said about the benefits of happiness and well-being in relation to productivity, with research suggesting that happy workers may be as much as 20% more productive than their unhappy or disengaged counterparts. Though there are multiple factors to consider when gauging happiness, staff that feel a sense of community are 58% more likely to thrive in their jobs.
Coworking spaces are, almost by definition, great facilitators of engaging workplace communities as staff from different companies sharing related professions can collaborate without the pressure of direct competition, but coworking trends suggest that this sense of community can be improved upon.
By offering community events such as shared lunches, on-site yoga classes, and evening networking groups, workers can contribute to a unique coworking community culture on their own terms. When we consider that 74% of modern remote workers claim to miss feeling a sense of office community, coworking spaces able to provide these benefits could prove incredibly popular in the coming years.
Energy Efficiency And Sustainability
With energy prices continuing to rise, and more media emphasis being placed on reducing carbon emissions in response to the ongoing climate crisis, modern organizations are under more pressure than ever to find effective solutions to reduce energy waste and improve workplace sustainability.
Research suggests that migrating towards more coworking spaces could help to combat these issues, with the EPA finding that if three or more companies choose to share the same coworking premises, teams could reduce their energy consumption by at least 30%. Combine this with the implementation of smart technology like occupancy sensors and energy waste could be reduced by as much as 68%.
As more modern companies begin to appropriately consider these benefits, it’s expected that coworking offices equipped with smart building management systems, automated HVAC networks, and other similar energy-saving technologies will become increasingly desirable to business owners.
Coworking As An Employment Perk
The number of professional workers performing their roles as a remote staff has increased from 6% prior to the pandemic all the way to 25% in 2023, with several large companies now able to expand their recruitment operations and onboarding systems beyond previous geographical restrictions.
As companies continue to adjust to this relatively new employment environment, it’s expected that some will offer to cover the expense of providing remote workers with their own coworking space as part of the employee’s discussed salary and benefits package. Just as company cars and computers have been salary packaged in the past, coworking space access could become a perk for remote workers.
With recent data indicating that 87% of surveyed workers would choose flexible work if it was offered by their employer, and 89% of employees using coworking spaces claiming to be happier in their roles since moving to a coworking setup, it’s likely that more employers will begin to discuss this as a perk.
Summary
As coworking spaces continue to become more popular and widespread across the globe, we can expect property owners and building managers to invest in more convenient smart technologies, and better on-site amenities and to pay more attention to the needs and requirements of remote and flexible staff.
The coworking spaces able to keep up with emerging trends such as integrated security systems, improved energy efficiency, and efforts to create engaging workplace communities are likely to become more desirable to employers and employees, helping to spur innovation in the coworking industry.
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