The work landscape has changed significantly across many industries, with nearly two-thirds of employees valuing work-life balance over pay and benefits. Additionally, 40% of workers report feeling more productive working remotely than in traditional office settings. This shift has fueled the rapid growth of shared office spaces for remote workers, particularly coworking environments, which have seen booming demand.
The Surge in Shared Office Spaces for Remote Workers
Just a few years ago, remote work was relatively uncommon. In 2019, less than 6% of U.S. workers were fully remote, a number that jumped to over 41% during the pandemic. Although some companies have returned to the office, remote work remains a lasting trend, with experts estimating that 15% to 25% of all U.S. jobs are remote. Moreover, 41% of employees whose roles allow for remote work now do so at least part-time, driving the number of coworking space users from under 300,000 in 2015 to over a million by 2022. This growth is expected to continue as more workers and businesses adapt to the new normal.
Why Workers Choose Shared Office Spaces Over Working from Home
There are several reasons why remote workers might prefer a shared office space instead of working from home.
Limited Home Office Space
Many remote workers struggle with insufficient space at home. Particularly in larger cities, creating enough room for work equipment like computers and files can be challenging. The lack of a dedicated workspace can make it hard to stay productive.
Shared office spaces provide a practical solution by offering workers a dedicated environment where they can focus, often far more effectively than at their kitchen table.
Enhancing Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance is becoming increasingly significant, particularly among younger generations. A 2022 report from Microsoft revealed that over half of Millennial and Gen Z employees had left jobs due to poor work-life balance.
One of the drawbacks of working from home is that it blurs the boundary between personal and professional life. A study found that 70% of remote workers logged time on weekends, even when they weren’t scheduled. Shared office spaces help solve this issue by providing a designated space for work, allowing employees to keep their home life separate and more relaxing.
A Professional Setting for Meetings
One challenge remote workers face is finding an appropriate setting for meetings with clients or colleagues. Although video conferencing has become the norm, it doesn’t always offer the same benefits as in-person interactions.
Coworking spaces solve this by providing professional meeting rooms and communal areas ideal for business discussions, allowing for higher-quality interactions than a home office or video call can provide.
Alleviating Isolation and Fostering Community
While remote work has been shown to increase employee well-being, it can also result in feelings of isolation, as remote workers miss out on the social interactions of a traditional office environment.
Shared office spaces help bridge that gap by fostering a sense of community. These environments are designed with common areas, kitchens, and outdoor spaces to encourage interaction and alleviate the loneliness of working from home.
Expanding Networking Opportunities
Shared office spaces provide more than just a sense of community; they also offer valuable networking opportunities. Remote workers often work alongside professionals from various industries, creating opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing that wouldn’t be possible in a home office.
There are even instances where professionals have partnered to start new ventures, illustrating how beneficial coworking spaces can be for networking and career growth.
Access to Amenities and Resources
Although remote work has its perks, some employees still miss the amenities of a traditional office. Things like printers, scanners, or reliable internet can be harder to access at home.
Shared office spaces offer these amenities without requiring workers to give up the benefits of remote work, providing the best of both worlds.
Scalability for Businesses
For businesses, shared office spaces offer a unique advantage: flexibility. Unlike traditional office leases, coworking spaces allow companies to scale their operations as needed without long-term commitments. This flexibility makes it easier to accommodate a growing workforce while maintaining access to meeting spaces and collaboration opportunities.
Shared office spaces also enable companies to hire talent from a wider geographic area, as employees are no longer tied to a single office location. This helps businesses tap into a larger talent pool while still offering the benefits of in-person collaboration when needed.
Consider a Move to Shared Office Spaces
Whether due to limited workspace at home, the need for a better work-life balance, or the desire for a professional meeting environment, shared office spaces can provide significant advantages for remote workers. When contemplating coworking, the key is finding a space that boosts both productivity and creativity.