Office usage in the U.S. has climbed to its strongest level since COVID-19 disrupted workplace norms, even as attendance remains below pre-pandemic benchmarks. New data shows a steady rebound driven by return-to-office mandates and renewed activity in major job hubs, according to BisNow.
Office Visits Narrow the Gap With 2019
Average office visits per working day in November were 32.9% below November 2019 levels, the smallest gap recorded since early 2020, according to location analytics firm Placer.ai. While offices are not fully back, the distance from pre-pandemic norms continues to shrink.
Building access data points to the same trend. Kastle Systems reported office occupancy reached 56.3% during the week of December 8, the highest level the firm has recorded since the pandemic began.
Sun Belt and Major Cities Lead the Recovery
Miami posted the strongest attendance among major markets, with office visits only 15.9% below pre-pandemic levels. New York City followed, down 23.2% from November 2019, while Dallas ranked third at 26.2% below its pre-COVID baseline.
San Francisco remained one of the weakest markets overall, with attendance at just 47% of 2019 levels. However, it stood out for momentum: the city recorded a 13.7% year-over-year increase in office usage, far exceeding the national growth rate of 2.9%.
Tech Cities See Faster Gains
Placer.ai attributed stronger gains in San Francisco to renewed strength in the tech sector, particularly demand tied to artificial intelligence. Other tech-heavy markets also saw above-average growth, with Denver up 3.7% year over year and Boston up 3.1%.
Return-to-Office Mandates Drive Momentum
Office usage has trended upward since the first quarter of the year, when major employers such as JPMorgan Chase and Amazon implemented stricter in-office requirements.
While hybrid work remains widespread, the latest data suggests that corporate policies are gradually pulling more workers back into offices, pushing attendance to post-pandemic highs.
