The return to office movement is “gaining traction” across the US, Asia-Pacific and EMEA regions as occupiers anticipate greater attendance for the latter half of 2022.

CBRE’s spring 2022 occupier sentiment survey reveals that more than 75% of respondents across those regions expect a “more regular return” to the office this year, with more than half currently establishing policies and communicating expectations to their respective workforces. But the pace of the return runs the gamut: while attendance in the Americas and EMEA is relatively low, office attendance in the Asia-Pacific region is “essentially back to pre-pandemic levels.”

Thanks to the COVID-19 induced pervasiveness of remote work, companies are looking to downsize their offices. And now that a recession looks more and more like a reality, experts are comparing the current state of the market with past financial crises to try to understand exactly how much pain is coming for office landlords. Unfortunately, looking at past financial downturns is not painting a pretty picture as each of the previous three recessions caused office occupancy levels to drop.

The percentage of U.S. office space that is currently rented is significantly lower than it was at the beginning of the 2001 recession (or the subprime crisis). Though there’s ongoing demand for office space along the Sunbelt, vacancy rates in several major cities have shot up to their highest in years.

A return to open-plan office constructs is being met with resistance, according to a May survey by Framery.

Additionally, the survey by the office acoustics provider found shifts toward more health and wellness relaxing perks such as yoga studios and office gyms as well as designated quiet spaces.