Proprietary access data from 2,500+ buildings shows office occupancy reaching 56.3% — the highest weekly average since early 2020.
The Kastle Back to Work Barometer tracks access control swipe data across commercial office buildings in 10 major U.S. metro areas. The December 2025 report recorded the highest sustained weekly occupancy average since the pandemic began — a signal that hybrid work patterns are stabilizing around a new normal.
Markets leading the recovery: Austin (68%), Dallas (66%), Houston (63%). Markets trailing the national average: San Francisco (41%), New York (48%). The gap between Sun Belt and coastal markets has narrowed over the past 18 months but remains statistically significant.
For building operators, the stabilization means security infrastructure — headcounts, credential volumes, visitor traffic — is reaching a new steady state. The Barometer data provides a benchmark for operators evaluating whether current security capacity matches actual utilization.
