Workplaces that employees can reach more quickly are less likely to have high office vacancy rates, a new analysis finds.
An analysis from Moody’s Analytics reveals that metro areas with shorter commute times have lower office vacancy rates, reports Erik Sherman for Globe St. While the analysis acknowledges the role of many other factors in office vacancy and downtown recovery, “ we continue to hear chatter that firms are more reluctant to maintain/expand space in metros where employees have greater difficulty getting to the office.”
According to the analysis, “Four of the top five metros with the largest office vacancy rate decreases were Rust Belt cities including Dayton, Buffalo, Cleveland, and Rochester. At least as of 2021, Dayton, Buffalo, and Rochester featured above average share of commutes less than 15 minutes of one-third or greater.”
On the other end of the spectrum, “four of the bottom 5 metros (San Francisco, Charlotte, Austin, and Louisville) have a share of commutes less than 15 minutes at or below the average of one-quarter with San Francisco having the lowest share of 15%.”
FULL STORY: Short Commutes Help Reduce Office Vacancy Rates
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research