Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
Angela Howard – Culture Expert
Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
Across the globe, more than half of office occupiers now include flexible office solutions in their real estate strategies, with 17% planning to expand usage further, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s new Global Flexible Office Trends 2025 report.
In EMEA, flexible office use is at 61%, while 58% of occupiers in the Americas are on board. APAC trails with just 43% adoption, despite explosive demand in specific markets like India.
This is driven by the need for agility amid fluctuating office utilization. Flexible offices let companies scale space up or down quickly — supporting both short-term needs and long-term portfolio optimization.
India and APAC Markets Show Explosive Flex Growth
India stands out in the APAC region, accounting for 15.4 million sq ft in flex space uptake in 2024 — a threefold increase over five years.
International firms took over half the seats in that year, and enterprise leasing jumped 51% YoY. Operators are expanding rapidly to meet demand from GCCs and other enterprise clients, especially in Tier I cities like Bengaluru, which leads with 30% of national flex inventory.
This growth is spilling into smaller cities as occupiers chase talent and cost efficiencies. Meanwhile, regional players are leveraging local expertise, and developer-backed providers are addressing vacancy with flex-driven strategies.
The U.S. Rebounds as Hybrid Work Drives Demand
Flexible office inventory in the U.S. grew 11% YoY as of Q2 2025, with usage surging in secondary and tertiary markets. San Diego, for example, saw a 27% increase in inventory.
Flexible space now accounts for 2.6% of total U.S. office inventory, up from 2.3% in 2024.
Return-to-office mandates are also reshaping space requirements. Some firms, having downsized during the remote era, now find themselves short on physical space. Flex office offers an agile, low-commitment solution that mitigates fit-out costs while supporting both collaboration and individual work.
Europe Pushes Toward Larger Flex Formats
In the U.K., flexible offices have evolved beyond startup culture to attract larger occupiers across sectors, the report shows. Average desk requirements rose 37% between 2022 and 2025, and average lease terms jumped 42% to 18.1 months.
The Finance & Banking sector now ranks second in flex take-up, showing that flexible workspaces are no longer just for tech and media. British landlords — coined “Brandlords” — are launching in-house flex brands to de-risk vacancy and boost rent premiums. Storey by British Land reported 30% higher rents versus traditional leases in 2024.
Flex Delivers a Plug-and-Play Solution
One major driver of flex adoption is the avoidance of hefty capex. With fit-out costs easily exceeding $150 psf — plus another 10–40% in FF&E — many occupiers see flex as a faster, more affordable route to occupancy. Operators deliver fully furnished, amenity-rich spaces ready for use on day one, saving time and reducing business disruption.
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Flex Workspaces Are Evolving with Employee Needs
Flexible offices are increasingly aligned with how employees want to work. Meeting room bookings rose sharply across regions (+22% in North America, +24.5% in Asia), reflecting the need for collaboration space. But demand for desks remains steady, showing individual workspaces are still essential.
Occupiers are seeking a balance: spaces where employees can engage with culture and collaborate, but also retreat for focused work. Flex operators are optimizing layouts to support these dual needs.
Operators and Owners Forge New Models
Operators are cutting average lease terms — down 37% since 2020 — to gain agility in a volatile market. Joint ventures and management agreements are also gaining traction, especially in EMEA. In these models, landlords share operational control and upside, while operators benefit from reduced capital requirements.
Managed spaces are also rising fast, especially in the U.K., where they are now a mainstream solution for companies seeking privacy and customization without the complexity of traditional leases.
Outlook: Flex Continues to Scale Globally
Flexible office solutions are now a central part of corporate real estate strategy, especially as return-to-office policies clash with evolving workforce expectations.
With global flex stock expected to surpass 100 million sq. ft. by 2026, operators are expanding aggressively, and landlords are rethinking their portfolios. The market is maturing quickly, but is still fragmented, with major growth opportunities across both developed and emerging economies.
