Scope & Methodology: This report covers the period of Q1 2023, from January 1, 2023 to March 31, 2023. During this time, the Vantage Space platform was used to collect 1,914,326 observations across 37,072 spaces, in 20 countries. The data is analyzed globally and broken down into three key regions: EMEA, APAC, and AMER.
Our data is collected through visual observations, capturing two types of occupancy: "active" (individuals physically present in a space) and "passive" (signs of life, such as belongings indicating recent use). We combine both active and passive occupancy to calculate our "occupancy figure," which represents the capacity that is not available for use by others.
The first quarter of 2023 marked a significant increase in global average occupancy, rising to 36.0% (+4.0% from Q4 2022). This growth was most pronounced in EMEA, which saw a substantial jump to 42.0% (+9.0%), suggesting a strong start to the year for office returns in that region. APAC occupancy remained relatively stable at 43.0% (-1.0%), still the highest globally. AMER saw a slight increase to 24.0% (+1.0%). Overall, Q1 indicated a positive trend in office utilization compared to the end of the previous year.
| Region | Average Occupancy (%) |
|---|---|
| Global | 36.0% (+4.0%) |
| EMEA | 42.0% (+9.0%) |
| APAC | 43.0% (-1.0%) |
| AMER | 24.0% (+1.0%) |
Table 1: Average Occupancy by Region. Note: The percentage changes are calculated based on the previous quarter’s data (Q4 2022).
Chart 1: Average Occupancy by Region and Overall
Space Type Definitions: Because offices vary widely - especially in how each company labels their own spaces - we've standardized our definitions to keep everything clear and consistent. Below you'll see how we define each space category.
Work Space occupancy saw the largest global increase, reaching 39.0% (+5.0% from Q4 2022), driven primarily by a significant 10.0 point rise in EMEA. Meeting Space occupancy remained steady globally at 25.0% (+1.0%). ‘Other’ spaces saw a global decrease to 29.0% (-5.0%), largely influenced by a substantial drop in AMER (-17.0 points). APAC maintained high occupancy across Work (46.0%) and Other (46.0%) spaces. EMEA showed strong gains in Work (45.0%) and Other (41.0%) spaces. AMER lagged, particularly in ‘Other’ space utilization (15.0%).
| Region | Work Space (%) | Meeting Space (%) | Other Space (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global | 39.0% (+5.0%) | 25.0% (+1.0%) | 29.0% (-5.0%) |
| EMEA | 45.0% (+10.0%) | 30.0% (+4.0%) | 41.0% (+8.0%) |
| APAC | 46.0% (-2.0%) | 26.0% (+4.0%) | 46.0% (+2.0%) |
| AMER | 26.0% (+3.0%) | 20.0% (-4.0%) | 15.0% (-17.0%) |
Table 2: Average Occupancy by Space Type. Note: The percentage changes are calculated based on the previous quarter’s data (Q4 2022).
Chart 2: Average Occupancy of Meeting Type Spaces by Region and Overall
Chart 3: Average Occupancy of Work Spaces by Region and Overall
Meeting rooms are spaces designed for collaborative activities, such as team meetings or client presentations. The efficient use of these often high-value spaces remains a key focus for workplace optimization.
| Region | Average Meeting Size (Attendees) |
|---|---|
| Global | 2.8 (+0.4) |
| EMEA | 2.9 (+0.6) |
| APAC | 3.2 (+0.3) |
| AMER | 2.2 (-0.1) |
Table 3: Average Meeting Size by Region. Note: The changes are calculated based on the previous quarter’s data (Q4 2022).
Q1 2023 saw an increase in average meeting sizes globally, rising to 2.8 attendees (+0.4 from Q4 2022). This was driven by increases in EMEA (+0.6) and APAC (+0.3). AMER saw a slight decrease (-0.1). This suggests that while overall meeting space occupancy held steady, the meetings that did occur tended to involve slightly larger groups, particularly in EMEA and APAC.
Chart 4: Global Meeting Room Capacity vs Usage
Chart 5: EMEA Meeting Room Capacity vs Usage
Chart 6: APAC Meeting Room Capacity vs Usage
Chart 7: AMER Meeting Room Capacity vs Usage
The meeting room capacity versus usage data for Q1 2023 continues to illustrate the prevalent pattern of underutilized larger rooms. Globally, 43.9% of meetings involved only one person, whereas only 11.6% of the available rooms are designed for single occupancy. AMER shows the highest rate of single-person meetings (56.7%). Conversely, rooms designed for 5+ people represent over 45% of the global portfolio but hosted only around 13% of meetings. This consistent data highlights a significant opportunity to align space provision with actual user behaviour by increasing the number of smaller meeting/focus rooms.
Q1 2023 demonstrated a positive start to the year, with global average occupancy rising to 36.0%, led by strong growth in EMEA. Work spaces saw increased usage globally, while ‘Other’ spaces saw a decline, particularly in AMER. Meeting sizes increased slightly on average, especially in EMEA and APAC. Despite these shifts, the core challenge remains: the significant mismatch between the supply of large meeting rooms and the dominant demand for smaller, individual or two-person spaces. Addressing this imbalance by providing more appropriately sized rooms remains a key strategy for optimizing workplace effectiveness and cost efficiency.
About Vantage Space: Vantage Space is the world's leading workplace occupancy study app, designed to empower organizations with data-driven insights into their workplace usage. Simple to set up, easy to use, Vantage Space enables workplace leaders to gather the data they need to make strategic decisions about space planning and design.
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