The case

Switzerland is faced with a record level of vacant office space.

Source: CH -Medien – Stefan Ehrbar 24 February 2026

The commentary

According to experts, around 3.17 million square metres of office space were advertised as vacant on 1 October 2025, which amounts to about 9 % more than a year previously.

Experts believe that this may only be the beginning. The rise of remote work has been reducing companies’ space requirements, while at the same time, advances in artificial intelligence could eliminate many office jobs. US entrepreneur Andrew Yang even goes as far as predicting that 20 – 50 % of office workers could lose their jobs in the coming years.

Vacancies are particularly high in agglomeration areas and peripheral areas, whereas centrally located, well-connected offices remain in demand. Regions such as Chur, Lucerne, Biel/Bienne, Solothurn and Zug have recently seen a sharp increase in supply.

In response to this trend, many a landlord has started to convert vacant offices into apartments, a sector where demand has remained significantly stronger.