Remote work has become the new norm, effectively dividing the workforce and slowly pulling us away from the benefits of traditional coworking. Especially in the wake of the pandemic, remote work opportunities are at an all time high and are continuing to gain traction. In fact, studies predict that by 2025, more than 32.6 million Americans will work remotely.
Although there are benefits to this framework, there is evidence to suggest that employees yearn for and benefit from a sense of community at work. This desire for community is especially important for employees who have relocated for work, as they may be separated from their established social networks. With this in mind, pioneers have begun the quest for a profitable way to bring back traditional coworking spaces.
Currently, these spaces are expensive and even boring, left unable to attract enough people to continue to be profitable. In addition, these spaces have little vertical integration, meaning that most of them only fulfill the working aspect of life, working. Because of this, these spaces often fail to be sustainable and to fulfill the need for community.
Despite these shortcomings, a paradigm shift is incoming. Fostering community through coworking is possible, as up and coming spaces are taking over the market. These spaces are affordable, inclusive, and are focusing on prioritizing both social and professional experiences. Unlike traditional coworking, community coworking is highly sustainable, leveraging underused spaces in hotels, bars, and restaurants. With this readily available real estate, efforts can be focused on creating a healthy social and work space for those looking for balance within their workday.
Working does not have to be as isolating as the remote work movement has driven it to be. Committing to a coworking space could quickly become the solution to reviving the sense of community that many industries once boasted.
Source: Tavern Community
