From trend to mainstream: important statistics to know about the coworking industry before 2020
Coworking is no longer a trend, it’s the preferred way of working around the world and the evidence lies in the statistics below! For new and experienced landlords in the coworking industry, knowing your stats will guide you through making important decisions in the future. So let’s dive in!
Stats on Growth and Expansion: Since the first official coworking space in San Francisco opened, we have seen a healthy increase in the number of new spaces materializing at every corner of each big and medium-sized cities.
Let’s take London city, for example, WeWork has dominated at least 38 locations in London, housing big brands and entrepreneurs in areas like Soho, Tower Bridge, Devonshire Square, Waterhouse Square, Old Street, Hammersmith, Brook Green, Paddington and Shoreditch Mark Square.
We could also look at another big name, like Fora, opening its largest pro-working space in London’s Borough, spanning 3,000sqm and setting up spaces in locations like Borough, Old Street, Clerkenwell-Dallington Street, Soho and Southwark. As the figures by Allwork Space and Smallbizgenius demonstrate, growth and expansion will not be slowing anytime soon.
Shared workspaces have grown at an incredible rate of 200% over the past five years.
In global cities like London, New York and Chicago they are expanding at an annual rate of 20%, making coworking an institutional part of the market.
Flexible workspaces are typically operating at 84% capacity in Central London
There are currently 14,211 coworking spaces in the world today.
Coworking has taken the Asia-Pacific region by storm, leasing more than 8.0 million square feet over the last two year.
Coworking now takes up 27million square feet of office space across the US.
Occupancy levels have been nearing 100% for the few institutionalised coworking operators in India.
The coworking segment in India is expected to receive $400 million in investments by 2018.
The number of coworking members will rise to 3.8 million by 2020 and 5.1 million by 2022.
By 2020 50% of large companies will have some form of shared office space.
83% of users of coworking and other forms of flexible space claim to have benefited from these new work environments over the last 5-10 years.
The future of coworking is forecasted at a healthy growth rate of 15% over the next 5 years.
72% of landlords agree that working with coworking operators has significant benefits for their development.
Stats on Coworking dominating Real Estate companies: ‘Real Estates companies are now realising that the world is changing and companies are no longer willing to sign long leases. Hence why some of them have developed a side project, which focuses on securing a space in the coworking market’, Stated by Marc Navarro during a recent interview On The Dangers Of Using Coworking as a Label, he emphasised on how coworking is impacting Real Estate companies. According to the figures below, this influence won't be slowing down anytime soon!
By 2028, the flexible workspace will account for as much as 10% of Class A buildings.
A CBRE report found that 40% of buildings that include flexible workspace achieved values greater than the average for office buildings in their market.
Coworking space is expected to grow by 25% per year at retail properties through 2023.
Flexible workspace accounts for 15% and 5% of Grade A office space in areas of Bangalore and Singapore.
89% of Ropes and Gray survey respondents agree that traditional office landlords have adopted service innovations and amenities inspired by the coworking sector.
Office investors believe coworking spaces can help push vacancies down, add value for landlords, stabilize buildings, and improve the health of some market areas.
70% of CBRE survey respondents think that coworking operators will increasingly buy rather than lease assets.
The We Company is creating an investment fund to buy stakes in buildings where WeWork will be a major tenant. Basically, the company will become a landlord.
Stats on Community: People attract people. Community is one of the unique factors that the coworking industry offer. Having a healthy community in your space enables your members to develop a healthy network and feel happier at work.
In the case of The Assemblage, this coworking space is described by the Founder, Rodrigo Nino, as a ‘physical manifestation of an intention to build a sacred place for individuals to discover their highest potential, it is a coworking, coliving space a social event space for a community of individuals who are seeking transformation from within, and interconnection as a result of that exploration inside. It is truly a space for those that want to come together to simply remember that there is more to us than what we see.’
The Assemblage lives by the following principles, go higher, be of service and do well by doing good. Followed by an ethos focused on assembling with other creatives, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs to develop projects that inspire social change and disrupt the status quo. Where members can cultivate a balance of spiritual well-being, professional work and answer their calling in life to fulfil and enhance the world around them. How does your space make your members feel? According to research by DeskMag and Ergonomic Trends, they discovered that:89% of people reported that they are happier since joining a coworking space.
79% said coworking has expanded their social networks.
83% report that they are less lonely since joining a coworking space.
An average coworker interacts with 1 to 4 members per day.
64% said that coworking was an important source of work and business referrals.
55% of coworkers strongly feel that they are part of a community while 31% somewhat feel the same way.
In terms of personality types that frequent coworking spaces: 30% identify themselves as extroverts, 22% as introverts and the respondents as mixed are ambiverts.
82% of respondents reported that coworking has expanded their professional networks.
40% of the workforce will be freelancers temps, independent contractors and solopreneurs by 2020.
70% reported that they felt healthier than they did working in a traditional office setting.
64% of coworkers are better able to complete tasks on time.
68% said they were able to focus better while coworking.
60% are more relaxed at since coworking.
78% of coworkers are under 40.
50% report higher incomes.
The statistics were compiled from a number of reports:
Smallbizgenius (October 2019)
Allwork Space (May 2019)
DeskMag (May 2019)
Coworking Resources (May 2019)
Ergonomic Trends (2019)
The growing understanding of coworking needs, combined with our innovative approach means that Nexudus can support your growth and keep up-to-date with new features to improve your experience and your member’s engagement with your space. If you would like to read more of our helpful tips, subscribe to our free newsletter below.
Thank you for reading.
Related stories
How to Make Your Coworking Space More Sustainable in 2025
Sustainability is becoming more and more important for coworking spaces. If you're thinking of making your space more sustainable, it's good to remember that there are lots of ways to go about it. From small details to bigger changes, everything adds up when it comes to reducing your environmental impact.
5 Ways to Reduce Noise in Open Offices & Coworking Spaces
Some people like working against a background of noise, while for others it’s their worst work nightmare. The truth is, our relationship with noise depends on our own preferences and the nature of our work.
ViDA Compliance Guide: 8 Essential Steps for Coworking Spaces in the EU
Now that 2025 has arrived, the European Union's VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) initiative is becoming a key topic for coworking spaces operating in the EU. But don’t panic—ViDA will be introduced gradually, with key changes taking effect from 2028. This major VAT reform aims to modernize tax reporting, combat fraud, and streamline compliance through mandatory e-invoicing and real-time digital VAT reporting for certain transactions.
Harnessing AI to Help Coworking Operators Understand Their Communities Better
After more than twelve years in the coworking industry, we’ve seen the movement evolve at an incredible pace, especially in recent years. Spaces have grown larger, making it harder for operators to truly connect with their communities. At the same time, expectations for higher service standards and increasing competition mean that creating tailored experiences and fostering long-term member engagement is more important than ever.
What Is Workplace Management and Why Does It Matter?
There has always been a need for workplace management – the process of organising and optimising physical spaces, resources, and operations to support people’s needs. But, as 28% of UK working adults were reported to work in a hybrid capacity last autumn (by the Office for National Statistics), the question of ‘why workplace management matters’ is more critical than ever. Let’s look at the workplace management benefits for your operations.
Exploring Coworking Software in 2025: 10 Key Nexudus Features
From automating daily processes to supporting your team in building a thriving community and boosting revenue for your business – coworking technology couldn’t be more impactful for flexible workspace operations. But with so many tools available, selecting the right tech stack for your coworking business can be overwhelming.
10 Award-winning Coworking Space Designs: A Comprehensive Guide
Vibrant, contemporary workspaces create an undeniable ‘wow’ factor. Textured designs and ambient lighting make spaces feel warm and cosy, while natural elements and biophilic design features have literal mood-boosting properties.
Unlock Your Team’s Potential with the New Nexudus Academy
As the coworking industry continues to grow and evolve, so does the Nexudus platform. We always strive to develop new features and enhance existing ones to make your job easier. When new features are introduced, there is a need to learn how to best leverage them for your space.
The Power of People: Building a World-Class Team in Coworking
Coworking spaces thrive on the “co” – the collaborations, connections, and community – that can be formed within a flexible workspace. In fact, community activation is what transforms shared workspaces from mere buildings into vibrant, thriving hubs that empower people in their professional lives and create meaningful community experiences.
6 Powerful Storytelling Techniques to Elevate Your Coworking Space
If you've been reading about coworking space design recently, you've probably come across an article or two that mentions narrative design and wondered what exactly it is and how it differs from traditional interior design, as well as how it can be used to improve design.
Community
