Report: Global Shift Toward Experience in Workplace Strategy

Leading organizations are navigating evolving workplace demands through data-driven strategies, with portfolio optimization taking over cost-cutting as the top priority for corporate real estate leaders, according to a recent report from JLL.

JLL’s 2025 Global Occupancy Planning Benchmark Report highlights that utilization data remains the most valuable space metric for the third year running, yet only 7% of organizations rate their data capabilities as excellent. The report is based on data from ninety-nine global organizations representing more than 745 million square feet of commercial real estate.

While office attendance and hybrid structures are becoming more defined, fully flexible models are on the decline. Despite stronger governance, just 38% of firms use change management programs. Additionally, organizations are shifting toward more structured hybrid models, with fixed in-office day requirements increasing, and fully flexible approaches notably declining. The report also noted the evolution of technical spaces, changing space standards, and the critical role that both collaboration areas play.