Toronto Office Vacancy Rate Hits 28-Year High, Worst Among Major Canadian Cities

Like other well-known commercial centers including Hong Kong, London, and Los Angeles, Toronto’s commercial office market recorded a substantial rise in office vacancy rates last year.  

CBRE recently published a report on Canada’s Q4 2023 office figures which reveals that office vacancies in downtown Toronto have risen to their highest on record in 28 years — reaching 17.4% in 2023.   

According to a report published by the Toronto Sun, the rise in vacancies is even more pronounced outside of Toronto’s downtown core at 20.3%. This data reflects changes in work habits and employee demand for flexible work environments in the post-pandemic economy. 

The impact on Toronto’s real estate market is noteworthy. However, the reports also reveal that Toronto’s market performance overshadows signs of positive market recovery in other cities in Canada, including Calgary, Ottawa, and Vancouver. Toronto’s net absorption rate was reported to be the worst performing among major Canadian cities last year, marked at -2.7 million square feet.  

The Toronto Sun reports that the downturn in office spaces has prompted city-wide solutions like Calgary’s initiative to convert office spaces into residences, a strategy that Toronto has been encouraged to adopt amidst the city’s persistent housing challenges.  

The data is a reminder that the future of work is not just about how people work, but where people work. As high vacancy rates persist in cities like Toronto, it will be important for businesses, city planners, and the workforce to innovate new approaches in order to help preserve downtown commercial centers.