3Q26 Office Research Brief

White-collar job growth remains subdued. Although total U.S. employment increased by 426,000 in the first seven months of 2026, office-using employment declined by 12,000 positions. If this trend continues through year-end, it will mark the fourth consecutive year of white-collar job losses, though at a much slower pace than the roughly 200,000 roles lost annually between 2023 and 2025. Still, incremental gains in workplace attendance are helping offset some hiring-related headwinds for office utilization. Hybrid work setups remain common, supporting demand for dedicated workstations and helping workplace usage trend higher.