What’s going on:
In the Phoenix metro area, two suburban areas boast over 10 coworking spaces each: Scottsdale’s impressive 22 and Mesa’s 12, making Phoenix a hotspot for flexible working.
On a bigger scale, Los Angeles has a total of 8 suburban areas with no less than 190 shared workspaces.
Why it matters:
2020 saw the beginning of a shift away from large, urban areas towards more suburban and rural ones, which is a trend that would peak the following year.
According to the Economic Innovation Group, 68% of urban counties experienced a population decrease in 2021. This makes sense, considering that with work and personal lives so intertwined during the pandemic, many sought to find jobs closer to home.
Suburbs have thus become hubs for not only small businesses, but also for flexible coworking spaces — with almost half (44%) of these located in suburban areas nationwide.
“Historically, the picket-fence lifestyle has always been the epitome of the American dream — and, during times when remote work has become more widely available and Millennials have settled down to raise families, larger and more affordable spaces on a cul-de-sac make perfect sense,” according to AZ Big Media.
How it’ll impact the future:
The burgeoning popularity of flex spaces in the suburbs is a telling sign of a vibrant demand among locals and a bold step forward for operators to invest beyond the well-known business districts and hustle of city-centers.
