— By Tim Helgeson, Senior Vice President, Asset Manager, KBS — With San Diego’s median age sitting at just 34.9 and only 12 percent of the population over 64, much of the area’s workforce comprises younger Millennials and Gen Z professionals. This new generation of workers has a fresh approach to employment, not to mention a unique shared history that’s shaped by COVID. As this younger cohort enters and establishes itself in the workforce, employers expect their office space to help them attract and retain young talent. This expectation is influencing investors’ decisions and, in many ways, reshaping the office market in the new normal. These younger workers will be impacting office market dynamics now and for the next several years in a few different ways: Accelerated Repopulation of Offices Many employees got used to working remotely during the pandemic, but there is ample evidence that companies recognize the importance of having their teams in the office. Younger workers are partially driving this trend. In fact, research shows that Gen Z values the office more now than they did before the pandemic. The truth is, no remote work situation can compare to face-to-face, on-site interactions for onboarding, teaching, mentoring and advancing …
