Asia Pacific companies are entering a more stable phase of workplace transformation, with office attendance settling at higher levels and half of occupiers expecting to expand their office footprint over the next three years, according to CBRE’s 2026 Asia Pacific Office Occupier Survey.
The survey found that 88% of respondents have employees working in the office at least three days a week, the highest level recorded since the COVID-19 pandemic. A further 85% believe office attendance has reached a steady state, suggesting that businesses are moving beyond the initial focus on returning employees to the workplace.
“The workplace conversation in Asia Pacific has fundamentally shifted,” said Tom Gaffney, Head of Leasing, Asia Pacific, at CBRE. “With attendance and utilisation largely stabilised at higher levels, companies are no longer focused only on bringing employees back to the office.”
Gaffney said occupiers are now concentrating on workplace transformation, employee experience and efficiency, creating what CBRE described as a new equilibrium for the office market.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly influencing corporate real estate operations, although its effect on office demand remains uncertain. Forty-six per cent of respondents identified themselves as AI adopters or active movers in applying AI to corporate real estate, up from 9% in 2024.
However, more than half of occupiers said AI had either made no difference to their office requirements or that it was too early to determine the impact on workforce size and property portfolios. CBRE said AI is currently being used mainly to improve operational efficiency, decision-making and workplace management rather than to drive immediate reductions in office space.
Expansion plans are being shaped primarily by business growth. Of the 50% of respondents expecting their office space to increase, 60% identified organic growth as the main driver. Yet the expansion is not expected to be broad-based. Many companies are consolidating portfolios, exiting lower-quality premises and directing investment towards premium facilities.
Demand is particularly strong in India and Japan, where limited availability is constraining occupiers. Companies in mainland China also continue to pursue growth, led by technology and new-energy businesses, although at a more measured pace than in other parts of the region.
Quality remains central to occupier decisions. Nearly half of respondents expect their offices to be located in central business districts, while 85% prefer Grade A buildings or higher.
“Companies are facing competing priorities: improving portfolio efficiency while continuing to enhance employee experience,” said Ada Choi, head of Research, Asia Pacific, at CBRE. “Future growth will be concentrated in higher-quality workplaces, while lower-value space is rationalised.”
The survey was conducted between 26 May and 10 July 2026 and included more than 650 corporate real estate executives across Asia Pacific.
