NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A new survey released Tuesday shows New York City office workers still may not be heading back to their Manhattan buildings anytime soon.
For months, the Partnership for New York City has been trying to peg down when office workers might start filling up Manhattan office buildings again.
The group first estimated that workers would return by the end of 2020, but as the pandemic continued, that date got pushed back to July 2021.
Now, Kathryn Wylde, the president and CEO of the nonprofit, says the same level of activity that New Yorkers once knew may actually never come back.
“Employers are predicting that more than half of their office employees will continue to work remotely for at least part of the time,” she told WCBS 880.
A new survey from the group has found that just 45% of workers are expected to be back in their offices by September 2021, but some may never return.
“Employers have learned that the company is just as productive, just as profitable, without having to pay real estate funds,” Wylde said.
The nonprofit expects many employers will likely choose to keep their workers remote permanently, which could have some positive and negative effects on New York City’s economy.
“Probably rents are gonna go down,” Wylde said of the positive.
She added that New York City will also no longer have “quite a Manhattan-centric economy.”
But, the MTA and other industries that rely on Manhattan officer workers to stay afloat – such as the restaurant industry – could suffer dramatically.
Wylde said the survey also finds business travel will be severely cut back, with New York's tourism likely taking a hit as a result.
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