Manhattan Office Occupancy Exceeds Pre-Pandemic Levels by 1.3%, New Data Reveals

New data from Placer.ai indicates that Manhattan's office occupancy in July 2025 has surpassed its pre-pandemic levels from July 2019 by 1.3%, signaling a robust return-to-office trend in New York City. This finding, highlighted by the New York Post, challenges narratives suggesting a permanent shift to remote work. The analysis, which utilizes cellphone data to track movements in commercial buildings, positions New York City's recovery uniquely compared to other major U.S. urban centers.

The New York Post article, shared by "Resist the Mainstream" on social media, emphasizes that this increase debunks what it terms "work-from-home propaganda." While New York City sees a resurgence, office usage in Los Angeles and Chicago remains significantly below pre-pandemic benchmarks, reportedly down by 34%. This divergence underscores New York's distinct economic trajectory.

Further supporting the trend, Manhattan's office vacancy rate has reportedly fallen to approximately 16% this year, marking its lowest point since 2019. Major corporations such as Amazon, Goodwin Procter, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. are actively leasing expensive office spaces, and developers like BXP are proceeding with new tower constructions. This activity reflects confidence in the sustained return of the workforce to physical offices.

The economic ripple effects are already apparent, with a noted boom in fast-casual eateries across Midtown and Downtown Manhattan. According to the New York Post, prominent chains like Sweetgreen and Pret-a-Manger are signing leases for previously vacant retail spaces, a direct consequence of more employees returning to their desks five days a week. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has also publicly criticized remote work, citing "extraordinary abuse" and mandating a full return for most employees.

The article sharply criticizes alternative data sources, particularly the Kastle Systems Back-to-Work Barometer, which it claims misrepresents actual office occupancy. The New York Post asserts that Kastle's methodology, based on card swipes in a limited sample of buildings, fails to capture the true extent of office utilization, especially in prime, highly occupied properties. It concludes that it is "time for the mainstream media to accept reality."