The U.S. office market remains in flux, but there are positive signs for this troubled sector, according to the latest research from JLL.
In its Workplace Trends 2025 report, JLL reported that while larger tenants continue to reduce their office footprints, companies looking for a smaller amount of space — typically 25,000 rentable square feet or under — are becoming more active in the marketplace.
JLL says that this pattern is most frequently seen in the finance, tech and consumer goods industries. And while it’s nice to see smaller users gobbling up space, the lack of activity by companies seeking larger amounts of square footage means that vacancy rates will remain high in the office sector throughout 2026.
The strength of the work-from-home movement is lessening, though. JLL reported that more than 70% of firms included in its research have enacted some form of in-office policy, whether that’s requiring employees to return to the office on a full-time basis or on a part-time schedule. That’s a big jump from 2024, when only 51% of companies in JLL’s report had put such policies in place.
Another big workplace trend? An increasing number of companies are using AI to fuel their businesses.
JLL pointed to the insurance industry, which it says leads all industries in AI adoption. According to JLL’s research, 64% of insurance companies said that they prioritize AI initiatives. More than half of insurance CEOs in JLL’s report said that they expect to see a return on their AI investments in three to five years.
These CEOs said that they expect the use of AI for more mundane, time-consuming tasks to free up their employees to tackle high-value work and boost their productivity.
In the energy industry, JLL found that employees average three to four days a week in the office. Workspaces in the energy sector increasingly include dedicated focus zones in addition to private offices and workstations, JLL reported.
Energy companies are also leasing office space on a longer-term basis than in many other industries. JLL reported that 85% of the office leased volume from energy companies came with lease terms of more than five years. That’s about 1.2 million square feet of long-term office leases in this sector.
Finance firms continue to evolve. JLL said that finance companies prefer hoteling systems and flexible seating when it comes to the workplace environment. Employees at these companies are averaging 3.5 to 5 days in the office a week.
The flight to quality is especially strong in this sector, with JLL reporting that finance companies are aggressively pursuing top-tier, Class-A-plus office spaces. The goal? To persuade employees to spend more time in the office and to help retain the best talent.
Tech companies continue to embrace the hybrid work model, JLL said. This is clear in the spaces that tech companies are leasing. In tech company spaces, offices function more as collaboration hubs with spaces set aside for team projects and innovation sessions, JLL said.
JLL said that tech firms rely on occupancy sensors, booking analytics and employee preference data to continuously refinance space allocation and predict future office needs.
Tech companies focus, too, on amenities. JLL said that some companies offer such high-end amenities as baristas, rooftop terraces, outdoor patios, yoga and exercise studios, mother’s suites, prayer rooms and social hubs.
And what does the future hold for the U.S. workspace? First, expect a lot of expiring office leases. JLL says that office leases are beginning to expire that were either extended during the pandemic or standing leases that were signed seven to 10 years ago. JLL predicts that companies, now more certain of their future, will sign leases with longer terms.
AI will continue to play an important role in office life. Companies are still trying to determine how to best use AI to increase employee productivity, JLL said. Those organizations that provide training and set clear expectations and boundaries will realize the biggest gains from AI technology, JLL said.
JLL also says that flexibility in office design remains key. This includes a focus on quiet zones vs. active zones, spaces for individual work and additional spaces for collaboration. It’s key for companies to understand how their employees work best and design their office spaces to set these workers up for success, JLL said.
