Four years after the pandemic began, altered work habits continue to shape our daily routines. A recent analysis by the Financial Times reveals that while the number of US workers trekking into work has modestly bounced back, it still remains below pre-pandemic levels and is unlikely to fully recover.

• Mobility trends show that the share of commuters in New York is down more than 20% from pre-pandemic levels, and transit usage is just 70% of what it was pre-pandemic.
• Workers’ attitudes toward commuting have shifted, with two-thirds now finding it more challenging than before.

Urban impact: Downtowns are quieter, raising concerns about lower tax revenue and economic growth. Although public transit shows signs of recovery, with ridership up ~15% in NY, Chicago, and SF between 2022 and 2023, downtown foot traffic in office-heavy city centers like SF is only 32% of pre-pandemic levels.