Revealed: the global cities most suited to hybrid working
Cities in the US and Europe are likely to see a more seamless transition to hybrid working than those across Asia, according to new analysis by Savills.
New York, Paris, London, Berlin and Frankfurt have all been singled out as being well equipped to deal with a switch to flexible working practices, the agency said. Meanwhile, Mumbai, Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City are likely to take to the trend more slowly.
Savills’ researchers looked at metrics such as the size of people’s homes, broadband speeds and commuting times, alongside employer- and occupier-focused factors, such as the cost and efficiency of offices, workplace culture and lease lengths to grade cities on their possible speed of migration to hybrid working.
Cities in the US and Europe are likely to see a more seamless transition to hybrid working than those across Asia, according to new analysis by Savills.
New York, Paris, London, Berlin and Frankfurt have all been singled out as being well equipped to deal with a switch to flexible working practices, the agency said. Meanwhile, Mumbai, Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City are likely to take to the trend more slowly.
Savills’ researchers looked at metrics such as the size of people’s homes, broadband speeds and commuting times, alongside employer- and occupier-focused factors, such as the cost and efficiency of offices, workplace culture and lease lengths to grade cities on their possible speed of migration to hybrid working.
The Western capitals’ high office costs, existing flexible working habits and extended lockdowns make them more suited to the switch, said Paul Tostevin, director of world research at Savills.
However, he added: “This may be outweighed by longer lease lengths, slower home broadband speeds and – in some cases – smaller homes, which may mean employees themselves push for a return to the office.
“As Asian cities experienced much shorter lockdowns, and some – notably in China – returned straight to full-time office working, most will be slowest to transition to hybrid working. Small dwelling sizes mean that employees also support working from the office.”
Los Angeles is likely to see a switch for different reasons: large homes and long commutes make the city ripe for hybrid working from an employee perspective, said researchers. Smaller cities such as Lyon and Amsterdam, meanwhile, are likely to see a slower shift to hybrid working, given shorter commutes for employees and lower costs to office occupiers.
Jeremy Bates, Savills’ head of occupier services across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said: “The transition to a hybrid workforce is the biggest challenge businesses are going to face in the next five years.
“Even if you’re in a city set to switch more slowly, it is likely to be something you’ll have to manage, and given low office availability in many locations, it’s better to start looking sooner rather than later to find space that will work for you in a hybrid model.”
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