Most Canadian office workers are spending the majority of the business week on employers’ premises rather than working remotely, says GWL Realty Advisors’ s top researcher.

New yet-to-be-published data indicates that workers are spending three or more days per week in the office, Wendy Waters, GWL’s vice-president of research and strategy, told Connect Canada CRE.

“There are more people returning to the office than people might be expecting,” she said.

The findings come as major markets grapple with high office vacancy due to the COVID-19 pandemic and changing work patterns.

Toronto-based GWL obtained the data through a survey of 1,500 office workers in Canada’s six largest cities. GWL commissioned Abacus Consulting to conduct the polling.

On average, 75% of employees are toiling mostly in the office. Edmonton and Calgary rank first and second with 88% and 73%, respectively.

Most returnees work in suburban offices and downtown locations reachable via pleasant commutes.