2023 Flexible Office Heatmap Reveals Top 10 Markets

In 2023, the flexible office market experienced diverse trends in supply and demand across major global cities. While some cities show a more stable post-pandemic economic recovery, others continuously struggle to maintain office occupancy levels.  

According to a recent report published by Instant Group, this variation in how the global flexible office market matures in different cities around the world is expected to continue into 2024. 

The report named the “hottest markets” for flexible desk demand in 2023, measured by the total number of flexible desks requested. The 10 cities listed were: 

1. LONDON 
2. MEXICO CITY 
3. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia  
4. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates 
5. SYDNEY 
6. CHENNAI, India 
7. NEW YORK CITY 
8. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka  
9. SINGAPORE 
10. BERLIN 

Notably, while cities like New York City and London have long been associated with coworking and flexible workspaces, others like Colombo are emerging as major markets in this field. Mexico City, which has also risen as a popular destination among digital nomads this year, saw the highest year-over-year jump in demand (+163%). 

The uptick with major cities around the world suggests there is a move away from traditional office models towards more dynamic and adaptable work environments. It correlates to the evolving needs of a modern workforce that increasingly values flexibility, convenience, and a balance between work and personal life. 

For the global workforce, this means greater opportunities for remote and hybrid working models — potentially contributing to the rise of digital nomads and gig workers around the world. It’s reported by Instant Group that the increases in demand are also being driven by larger companies looking to add greater flexibility to their real estate portfolios. Flexible workspaces can also benefit larger firms by reducing overheads and the ability to scale workspaces according to immediate business needs.