Property consultant Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) sees a more subdued take up for office space in the years to come amid the emergence of flexible work arrangement that has changed dynamics in the workplace.
Janlo delos Reyes, JLL Philippines head of research, said despite the fact that companies are mandating a return to office (RTO) to staff, space take up may be more subdued unlike the previous requirement of more than 10,000 sq.m. for a single transaction.
Delos Reyes said takeup has generally declined to around 5,000 to 10,000 sq.m. in terms of transactions. There are some transactions for as small as 150 to 300 sq.m.
“There will still be expansion activity, but not as aggressive as before. That’s the silver lining, that there will still be demand for office space in the future,” he said.
Delos Reyes said companies said financial services sector will drive the demand as the RTO mandate gains momentum.
Delos Reyes cited JLL’s latest workforce preference barometer survey which showed that workers remain “office centric,” with 70 percent of them still working in the office.
Based on a survey of workers based in Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Clark area and Cavite Laguna Batangas, around 42 percent of the workforce that report to the office five days a week, 21 percent go to office two days a week, and around 19 percent go to the office three days a week, Delos Reyes said.
He said JLL is seeing a pickup in RTO mandates across office space occupiers.
“The workforce preference data tells us that offices will definitely remain relevant,” Delos Reyes aid.
The survey shows workers value enhanced workplace amenities, with health services (60 percent), food services (53 percent), and enhanced in-office amenities (52 percent) as top priorities.
JLL’s Workforce Preference Barometer Survey 2025 reveals that 76 percent of Filipino office workers prioritize work-life balance while maintaining an average of 3.35 days per week in the office. Additionally, 68 percent expect more flexibility in working hours when returning to office environments.
