Australian Office Occupier Survey 2026

Key Points: 

• CBRE’s 2026 Australian Office Occupier Survey was conducted between May 26 and July 10, 2026.
• Office utilisation has largely stabilised, with 79% of occupiers report attendance has reached a steady state. Desk sharing continues to increase, with the average employee-to-desk ratio rising from 1.18 three years ago to 1.30 today.
• The contractionary phase is easing, with fewer occupiers planning footprint reductions and more expecting stable or expanding portfolios over the next three years. Greater adoption of flexible space (53%) and portfolio consolidation (47%) are the leading real estate strategies occupiers intend to prioritise.
• AI is influencing real estate decision-making, although 36% of occupiers currently expect no impact on their office footprint over the next three years. Only 29% of occupiers anticipate reducing their footprint due to AI-related headcount declines, while 14% expect AI-driven growth to support portfolio expansion.