The Kastle Back to Work Barometer posted its strongest readings since the pandemic began in what appears to be a strong post-Thanksgiving return to the office. Week of December 8th data shows that American workers came into the workplace in record numbers since we began tracking in 2020, pushing both weekly averages and single-day peaks to new highs across major markets.
A+ Buildings Lead the Way, Yet Broad Gains Reported
Top-tier office properties once again outperformed the broader market. Weekly average occupancy in A+ Class buildings rebounded to 78.8%, essentially back to pre-Thanksgiving levels, while occupancy across all office buildings surged to 56.3%—the highest weekly average recorded since early 2020. The gap between A+ buildings and the overall market narrowed slightly, suggesting broad-based momentum rather than gains isolated to premium space alone.
Tuesday stood out as the peak day of the week, a pattern consistent with hybrid work trends. On that day, A+ rated buildings reached 95.5% occupancy, while all office buildings hit 66.0%, setting a new single-day post-pandemic record for all building types.
Record-Setting Cities and Peak Days
The post-holiday surge was visible across multiple markets. Washington, DC reached a post-pandemic high of 64.3% on Tuesday, while Austin, TX set a new city record on Wednesday at 92.9%, more than five points higher than the prior week and two points above its previous peak. New York also joined the record-setting group, with weekly occupancy climbing to 59.5%.
Overall, the 10-City Back to Work Barometer averaged 56.3% for the week—half a point higher than the previous record set in mid-November—underscoring growing consistency in office attendance.
What the Data Tells Us
As office occupancy reaches its highest levels since the pandemic began, the latest Barometer readings suggest that the “return to office” is not only continuing but possibly accelerating slightly. Kastle will keep analyzing this robust dataset to help customers and the industry better understand where workplace behavior is heading. These gains in the middle of the holiday season portend a new “normal” may be ahead in 2026.
