How Surging RTO Trends Have More Employers Choosing Coworking Office Spaces

"Business owners who want staff to spend more time in the workplace each week frequently encounter two main challenges. to their efforts. The first has been overcoming employee resistance to the reduction or full elimination of remote working privileges they've come to cherish. The second problem has been finding enough room for those returning workers. As working from home became the post-pandemic norm, many companies shrank their office footprints to cut expenses, and are now scrambling for space to accommodate everyone."

"In many cases this involved employers using coworking spaces to replace traditional long-term office leases. The rents and occupation fees are cheaper, but the new settings produce the benefits of in-person staff teamwork - and in workspaces that workers are often happier coming to than their former corporate offices. The reason? Many companies are choosing those shared business digs located closer to their employees' homes, which considerably cuts their commute times."

"The trend is gaining momentum. A recent report by shared workplace directory and news site Coworking Café said the total footprint of the U.S. coworking market increased by 5 percent in the fourth quarter of Q4 over Q3. That represented a rise from 8,420 locations, to 8,854, or from 152 million square feet to 159 million square feet. The sector's growth for all of 2025 was a robust 17 percent."

Companies face two main challenges when requiring more in-office time: employee resistance to reduced remote work privileges and insufficient office space after post-pandemic downsizing. Many employers are turning to shared coworking spaces to address both issues. Coworking options often cost less than traditional long-term leases while restoring in-person teamwork benefits. Employers favor coworking locations closer to employees' homes to shorten commutes and improve willingness to return. The U.S. coworking market expanded notably, with locations and square footage rising in Q4 and a 17 percent growth for all of 2025, increasing available capacity for returning staff.

Read at Inc