• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Leadershipreturn to office

These U.S. cities have had the most luck getting workers back into the office

By
Andrew Marquardt
Andrew Marquardt
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Andrew Marquardt
Andrew Marquardt
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 2, 2022, 2:09 PM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

More than two years after the COVID pandemic forced millions of employees to start working remotely, executives across the country are doing what they can to convince staff that it’s time to return to the office for good. 

At Goldman Sachs, CEO David Solomon announced in March that employees must return to the office five days a week. JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon announced a similar measure last month, requiring at least 50% of the company to return in-person work full time. 

And while companies have had mixed success trying to get their workers back into the office, some cities have fared far better than others, according to new data from Kastle Systems, an office security company that tracks workers’ badge swipes and keycard usage at more than 2,600 buildings it manages across 47 states.

The most successful city at returning workers to the office? Austin, Texas. 

In Austin, office buildings are 59% occupied during the work-week ending on April 20, according to Kastle’s data. Previous weekly highs in the city in 2022 were above 60%. 

Other Texas cities, including Houston and Dallas, have seen the next highest rates of office attendance, both hovering around 50% over the same week.

By comparison, office buildings in New York City were at just 33% occupancy during the same period. San Jose, California had the lowest rates of any city Kastle measured, at just 31% during that time. And nationwide, offices in the 10 largest U.S. cities with buildings tracked by Kastle are hovering around 40% occupancy. 

In Austin, the number of workers who have returned to offices full time is likely even higher than Kastle’s tracking shows. 

Kastle’s data does not account for government buildings, which in state capital cities like Austin accounts for thousands of government workers who have returned to offices full time since March due to executive orders from Republican Governor Greg Abbott. 

Texas is not the only state that has encouraged workers at state office buildings to return to the office, but the other cities listed in Kastle’s data are in Democratic-led states that have not required state employees to return to office work full time.  

A number of factors could be contributing to Austin’s ability to return employees to the office. 

The city has seen massive growth over the past decade, especially among young professionals who work in finance and corporate offices for tech companies like Amazon, Meta and Apple, all of which opened offices or expanded their operations in Austin over the last two years. These jobs are more likely to require employees to return to the office. 

“We’re committed to Austin and look forward to growing here together,” Katherine Shappley, the head of Meta’s Austin office, said in a statement to Bloomberg announcing the company’s plans to expand in the city earlier this year. 

As the city has grown, it’s added more jobs and attracted a younger demographic. A third of the city’s population is between the ages of 25 and 44 in 2020, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. 

Houston and Dallas are also growing cities that are attracting new residents at higher rates. According to a new survey from moving truck rental company Penske, the trio of Texas cities—Houston, Dallas and Austin—all ranked in the top 10 cities Americans are moving to over the past year. Houston led the list.

The 5 cities with the highest office occupancy rates, according to Kastle’s data:

  1. Austin – 58.8%
  2. Houston – 50.9%
  3. Dallas – 49%
  4. Los Angeles – 39.8%
  5. Chicago – 37%

The 5 cities with the lowest office occupancy rates, according to Kastle’s data:

  1. San Jose – 31%
  2. New York City – 32.9%
  3. San Francisco – 33.4%
  4. Philadelphia – 35.3%
  5. Washington D.C. – 36.6%

Sign up for the Fortune Features email list so you don’t miss our biggest features, exclusive interviews, and investigations.

About the Author
By Andrew Marquardt
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Leadership

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Leadership

nido
Commentary250 Years of Innovation
As an immigrant turned entrepreneur and college president, here is why I celebrate our nation as it turns 250
By Nido R. QubeinJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago
A 6 year study shows which CEOs are pushing RTO mandates: The ones with the biggest egos
NewslettersCEO Daily
A 6 year study shows which CEOs are pushing RTO mandates: The ones with the biggest egos
By Claire ZillmanJune 25, 2026
4 hours ago
Jen Wong, chief operating officer at Reddit, speaks during the OMR digital and marketing trade fair
Big TechReddit
Reddit COO targets 1 billion users as internet’s ‘odd duck’ aims for new heights
By Sam BirchallJune 25, 2026
5 hours ago
Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
SuccessBillionaires
Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 25, 2026
7 hours ago
Fortune 500 bosses demanding staff return to the office share one trait: narcissism, research finds
C-SuiteLeadership
Fortune 500 bosses demanding staff return to the office share one trait: narcissism, research finds
By Claire ZillmanJune 25, 2026
7 hours ago
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America’s $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
SuccessMacKenzie Scott
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America’s $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
7 hours ago

Most Popular

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
Success
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting
Economy
The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting
By Jacqueline MunisJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Retail
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
23 hours ago
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
Asia
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
2 days ago
Trump’s international student crackdown kicked off a domino effect that could shave nearly $500 billion off the economy
Economy
Trump’s international student crackdown kicked off a domino effect that could shave nearly $500 billion off the economy
By Tristan BoveJune 24, 2026
20 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.