Office attendance increased across major U.S. markets in September 2026, signaling continued improvement in workplace utilization. However, Philadelphia remained the lowest-performing market among the 10 metropolitan areas tracked by Kastle Systems.
National office occupancy reached 55.4% of pre-pandemic levels during the week ending September 30. That represents an increase from 52.9% in late August and 54.1% during the comparable week in 2025.
Kastle Systems tracks office attendance using anonymized building access data from thousands of properties nationwide. Its measurements compare current attendance against March 2020 levels, before widespread pandemic-related office closures.
Philadelphia’s office occupancy reached 42% at the end of September, increasing from 39.5% in August. Despite the monthly improvement, attendance remained below the 42.6% recorded during the same period last year.
Meanwhile, New York experienced one of the strongest monthly increases among the markets tracked. Office occupancy climbed to 66%, compared with 53.8% in August and 54.3% a year earlier.
Washington, D.C., also recorded improvement, reaching 52.2% of pre-pandemic attendance levels. However, that figure remained relatively unchanged from the previous year’s 52.3%.
Other major markets experienced mixed results. Austin’s occupancy declined to 67.9% from 73.7% in August, while Chicago remained relatively stable at 56.7%.
The varying results highlight differences in workplace attendance patterns across major metropolitan areas. Additionally, they demonstrate how office utilization continues evolving several years after the pandemic.
For Philadelphia’s commercial real estate market, lower attendance presents ongoing challenges for office landlords and surrounding businesses. Reduced workplace activity can influence tenant space requirements, building amenities, and leasing decisions.
However, office attendance represents only one measure of market performance. Leasing activity, tenant demand, vacancy rates, and absorption also provide important insight into broader office market conditions.
Furthermore, the September increase suggests Philadelphia experienced some improvement in workplace activity following the summer months. Nevertheless, its year-over-year decline indicates that attendance remains below earlier recovery levels.
Looking ahead, office owners and investors will continue evaluating how hybrid work arrangements influence property demand. Philadelphia’s performance underscores the importance of adapting office properties to changing workplace expectations.
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