**Seattle’s Office Market Shows Signs of Revival in Early 2025**
Downtown Seattle experienced strong momentum in early 2025 as more companies called employees back to the office, signaling a sustained shift in workplace trends.
According to a recent report from CBRE, the number of downtown workers surged to nearly 94,000 per day in February 2025. This figure marks the second-highest total since March 2020 and represents a 63% recovery compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Despite increased foot traffic and growing optimism, the city’s office vacancy rate rose slightly in the first quarter of 2025. The vacancy rate edged up to 26.9%, a 40-basis-point increase from the end of 2024. In addition, the market recorded 378,962 square feet of negative absorption in Q1—more than double the previous quarter’s total.
Still, experts maintain a positive outlook for Seattle’s office market. Employment is growing at a steady annual rate of 1%, wages are on the rise, and the city’s unemployment rate remains low at 4.3%.
The first quarter concluded with 359,616 square feet of negative net absorption, in line with expectations. A key trend continues to influence market activity: the “flight to quality,” with tenants increasingly seeking higher-end office space in premier locations.
Overall, while challenges remain, the data suggests that Seattle’s office market is showing clear signs of life and resilience going into the remainder of 2025.
