Home office in transition: Current studies and their significance for the working world

According to new ifo Institute surveys, it's clear: employers are significantly more attractive to applicants if they offer home office options. Following a ifo survey from October 7, 2025, one in five job advertisements offers home office. This aligns with the New Work survey by the Xing network, which indicates that the option for remote work is particularly important for the Millennial and Gen Zgenerations. 

Another publication from the ifo Institute focuses on office occupancy. ifo found that, a quarter of all companies in Germany report insufficient office space utilization. How can companies reconcile these two findings? This article examines the scientific findings on home office in conjunction with office occupancy in more detail and advises on further steps to strengthen the employer's image and revitalize the office – by introducing flexible working and the established home office model.

One in four companies reports insufficient office occupancy. Why is this the case?

Compared to the last ifo Institute survey, the trend towards downsizing offices has further intensified. Around 26.3% of offices in Germany are not sufficiently utilized – and this trend is increasing. Consequently, about 12.5% of offices are planning to reduce their existing space.

A significant reason for vacant offices is the underutilization of office spaces due to home office and remote work, two models that are firmly established in many companies in the modern working world. As a result, desks in established offices, often permanently used by only one employee, remain empty and mostly unused.

What can be done about office underutilization?

The option to work from home office is, according to various studies, such as the “New Work Barometer” from Haufe Verlag, an important employer branding and benefit for some employees. Forcing them back into the office could, in the worst case, lead to a wave of resignations.

What options do employers have to make "back-to-office" attractive and increase office occupancy?

First, we need to let go of the idea that every employee is in the office every day. And this doesn't just refer to working from home: employees are potentially absent due to holidays, sick leave, training, external appointments, and other reasons. Therefore, companies should primarily focus on efficiently utilizing their buildings and secondarily on the possibility of bringing these efficiently designed spaces to life and increasing office occupancy.

A good way to fully utilize the office, despite the option of hybrid work, is to introduce a Desk Sharing Software. Based on this principle, the entire team can be accommodated with 40-70% of the workstations. 
For companies that have not yet offered home office, this can be a start, for example, to allow one day per week. For those companies that have mobile working as an integral part of the company culture established, it significantly eases the workspace situation. 

A very pleasant side effect: By introducing a desk booking tool, it is possible, through smart analytics to measure actual office occupancy and act as needed. Spaces can thus be (further) reduced, improved, and redesigned.

This would mean significant cost savings thanks to space reduction and at the same time promote the "Return to Office" planning, entirely without coercion.

The importance of home office for the company's external image and office occupancy

A fatal misconception for fully utilizing the office again would be to ban home office and introduce a permanent office presence requirement. Legally, this is certainly possible, but it carries risks and dangers for the employer. Because according to another ifo Institute study from May 2025, one in five job advertisements in Germany includes the option for remote work. Employees desire the flexibility to combine office hours and working from home. Desk sharing offers the ideal solution for both these aspects: an attractive company image and cost savings through efficiently utilized workspaces. 

The geographical significance of remote work offerings and the opportunities in urban and rural areas

The demand for remote work is not only generation-dependent but also varies significantly by region. Particularly large cities with a high density of tech, consulting, or creative industries, such as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and Cologne, show the highest proportion of job advertisements with remote options. Competition for talent is particularly fierce there, which is why many companies strategically use remote work as an advantage in hiring.

At the same time, figures from the ifo Institute and ZEW show that German companies rely on remote work more than average compared to international counterparts. According to ifo, employees in Germany work remotely more often than workers in many other European countries. And despite discussions about office presence for higher office utilization, plan according to ZEW only a few companies a complete departure from remote work. On the contrary: most are sticking with hybrid models or are further expanding them.

For companies, this means: those competing regionally for skilled workers can hardly avoid remote and hybrid options. Remote work is no longer a "nice-to-have" but an expected foundation for remaining attractive in metropolitan areas. Also not to be overlooked is the advantage that skilled employees living in rural areas can be recruited. 

Desk sharing concepts and flexible space utilization enable employers to optimally meet these new regional and demographic needs without creating expensive vacant spaces. The combination of location-independent work and intelligently managed office workspaces strengthens competitiveness. Regardless of whether the employer's location is urban or rural.

Conclusion: As an employer, embrace the zeitgeist – think strategically about remote work and optimize office utilization

All current studies, from ifo, ZEW, Haufe's "New Work Barometer" to XING, paint a clear picture: Remote work is here to stay. Employees expect flexibility, and employers benefit from increased attractiveness, a larger talent pool, and more efficient office spaces.

Instead of making mandatory office presence a new dogma, companies should focus on intentionally designing offices rather than desperately trying to fill them. An intelligent mix of remote work and modern office workspaces creates an environment that boosts both productivity and satisfaction.

With solutions like desk booking tools spaces can be utilized as needed, costs reduced, and employees simultaneously offered more independence and autonomy. This way, the office once again becomes a place where teams enjoy meeting, not because they have to, but because it adds value.

Companies that understand and respond to the zeitgeist secure a long-term advantage in employer branding, economical space costs, and a modern work culture