Only 28% of Manhattan workers are back in the office

Only 28% of Manhattan office workers are back at their desks and fewer than half will return by January, according to a new survey.

Employers expect that 49% of office workers will return on an average weekday by January, according to a survey of 188 big employers in Manhattan by the Partnership for New York City. That’s up from the current level of 28%, yet the survey suggests that remote work will endure long after January and reduce demand for office space in New York.

According to the survey, more than a third of employers expect their office space needs in Manhattan will decline over the next five years, and 13% expect a reduction in their New York City workforce.

“Post-pandemic,…