Major changes expected office market in the coming years due to the emergence of hybrid work and the increased need for flexible workspaces. The reduction in the presence of more and more workers in the workplace is a trend that has accelerated since the pandemic and is expected to lead to a diversification of the way office buildings are used, increasing the need for more flexibility.

This international trend has begun to affect the domestic office real estate market, where a significant number of multinational groups are active. It is estimated that there are about 25-30 flexible jobs operating today, mainly in Athens and Thessaloniki. However, in the next two to three years, this number is projected to double to at least 50 office buildings where this model will be implemented and properly configured for this purpose.

There are currently 30 offices in Athens and Thessaloniki, and this number is expected to increase to 50 in the coming years.

In this context, more and more companies are discovering that they need offices where they can rent workstations according to their needs, and not just square meters, which is a more permanent solution. A recent Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) Future of Work survey of more than 1,000 real estate companies from around the world showed that the number of flexible jobs will double by 2026.

This conclusion stems from the fact that hybrid work is becoming a practice, which means that property owners are being asked to sell properties that can meet this very need for increased flexibility. 53% of respondents said they plan to make hybrid work always available to all their employees by 2025. In fact, 77% of them agree that offering a hybrid job will be critical to attracting and retaining talent, while the percentage of those who predict they will raise the issue of changing the work model similarly.

In the Greek market, the biggest player in the field of flexible work is the American group IWG in a joint venture with Chr. Misailidis, who is also Managing Director in Greece. IWG manages over 10 buildings in Greece, mainly in Athens and Thessaloniki, through the Regus and Spaces brands. At the same time, however, it is planned to develop a network of 50-60 flexible working buildings in all major cities in the region, continuing to cooperate with property owners through the franchise method. IWG is also one of the largest international providers of flexible workspaces with over 2.5 million employees worldwide.