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Asian Pacific region tops global office attendance rates: JLL

/ EdgeProp Singapore |

December 5, 2023 8:26 PM SGT

A survey by JLL shows that weekly office attendance in countries across Asia Pacific averages over four days (Picture: Albert Chua/The Edge Singapore)

SINGAPORE (EDGEPROP) - JLL's research indicates that, despite a global return to the office, Asia Pacific (Apac) employees are in the workspace than their counterparts in the US and UK. In a Dec 1 press release, the consultancy notes that while office attendance in the US and UK averages about two days a week, Apac countries demonstrate higher attendance, averaging over four days per week.

New office attendance mandates and evolving hybrid policies have resulted in employees spending more time in the office. A year-long survey conducted by JLL across over 20,000 office workers globally shows that as of 1H2023, 80% of employees were spending three or more days per week in the office, compared to 51% in 1H2022 and 59% in 2H2022. “Overall, most international organisations globally (87%) are encouraging their employees to work from the office at least some of the time,” JLL adds.

In the Apac region, Taiwan leads with workers attending the office 4.7 days a week, followed by India (4.4 days), South Korea (4.2 days), Japan (3.8 days), and Singapore (3.4 days). Thailand records a weekly office attendance of 3.3 days, while Australia stands at 3.1 days.

On average, employees globally spend just over three days per week in the office, with peak attendance on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, says JLL. It adds that variances in office attendance across different markets are largely due to a combination of cultural nuances, living arrangements and other structural factors.

As in-office expectations persist, office attendance is anticipated to increase. JLL adds that workers value the office as a hub for socialisation, innovation and professional growth. “The office has always been, and will continue to be, central to work experience and culture,” said Susheel Koul, JLL's CEO of work dynamics, Asia Pacific.

“As more workers return to the office several days a week, we’re continuing to learn about the shifting preferences for ways of working and how we can better deploy technology and flexible arrangements to meet these expectations.”

Koul suggests creating dynamic spaces catering to collaborative and focused work to meet workers' ongoing need for human connection. He adds this will be the most effective strategy to encourage regular office attendance.

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