Scope & Methodology: This report covers the period of Q3 2021, from July 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021. During this time, the Vantage Space platform was used to collect 244,310 observations across 9,846 spaces, in 4 countries. The data primarily reflects trends in the APAC region, as EMEA and AMER data were not available for this specific reporting period.
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.
Q3 2021 saw a substantial surge in global average occupancy, reaching 65.0% (+24.0% from Q2 2021). This increase was driven entirely by the available APAC data, which mirrored the global figure at 65.0% (+24.0%). This indicates a strong return-to-office or increased workplace activity in the observed APAC locations during this quarter. Data for EMEA and AMER was not available for comparison or inclusion.
| Region | Average Occupancy (%) |
|---|---|
| Global | 65.0% (+24.0%) |
| APAC | 65.0% (+24.0%) |
Table 1: Average Occupancy by Region. Note: The percentage changes are calculated based on the previous quarter’s data (Q2 2021). EMEA & AMER data not available for Q3 2021.
Chart 1: Average Occupancy (Global & APAC)
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.
Reflecting the overall trend, occupancy increased significantly across all space types globally (and in APAC) compared to Q2: Work Spaces rose to 67.0% (+23.0%), Meeting Spaces more than doubled to 50.0% (+27.0%), and ‘Other’ spaces jumped to 71.0% (+24.0%). This indicates a broad increase in utilization across different types of workspaces in the observed locations.
| Region | Work Space (%) | Meeting Space (%) | Other Space (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global | 67.0% (+23.0%) | 50.0% (+27.0%) | 71.0% (+24.0%) |
| APAC | 67.0% (+23.0%) | 50.0% (+27.0%) | 71.0% (+24.0%) |
Table 2: Average Occupancy by Space Type. Note: The percentage changes are calculated based on the previous quarter’s data (Q2 2021). EMEA & AMER data not available for Q3 2021.
Chart 2: Average Occupancy of Meeting Type Spaces (Global & APAC)
Chart 3: Average Occupancy of Work Spaces (Global & APAC)
Analysis of meeting room usage in the observed regions.
| Region | Average Meeting Size (Attendees) |
|---|---|
| Global | 2.6 (+0.1) |
| APAC | 2.6 (+0.1) |
Table 3: Average Meeting Size by Region. Note: Global average rounded. The changes are calculated based on the previous quarter’s data (Q2 2021). EMEA & AMER data not available for Q3 2021.
The average meeting size saw a slight increase to 2.6 attendees (+0.1 compared to Q2) globally and in APAC. This suggests that alongside the dramatic increase in meeting space occupancy, the average number of participants per meeting also edged slightly higher.
Chart 4: Global Meeting Room Capacity vs Usage (Reflects APAC Data)
Note: Regional Meeting Room Capacity vs Usage charts for EMEA and AMER are not available as data was not present for Q3 2021.
The Q3 2021 meeting room data (reflecting APAC) showed an unusual pattern compared to other quarters. Rooms designed for 1 person constituted a high proportion of the capacity (39.9%) and hosted the majority of meetings (46.9%). This suggests a potentially different portfolio mix or usage pattern in the specific studies conducted this quarter. Demand for 2-person meetings was also significant (21.6% of meetings) relative to capacity (13.6%). Larger rooms (4+ capacity) were still generally underutilized relative to their share of the portfolio, although the mismatch was less extreme than often observed, possibly due to the high overall occupancy rates this quarter. Rooms for 8+ people made up ~16% of capacity but hosted only ~6.5% of meetings.
Q3 2021 stood out with exceptionally high global workplace occupancy at 65.0%, driven by the available APAC data which showed a significant jump from the previous quarter. This increase was reflected across all space types – Work, Meeting, and Other – indicating a strong period of workplace activity in the observed regions. Meeting space occupancy saw a particularly dramatic rise, accompanied by a slight increase in average meeting size. While the mismatch between large meeting room supply and demand persisted, it was less pronounced than in many other quarters, potentially due to the high overall utilization rates. The unique characteristic of this dataset was the unusually high reported capacity (and usage) of single-person rooms within the observed portfolio. This quarter highlights significant regional or temporal variations that can occur in workplace usage patterns.
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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