Only 3% of Bavarian Companies Embrace Coworking in Hybrid Work Policies

Despite the rise of hybrid work models across Europe, a recent study shows that coworking remains a fringe option among Bavarian companies, with only 3% offering access to coworking spaces as part of their flexible work policies.

The data, published in March 2025 by the Bavarian Business Association (vbw), highlights how companies in the region continue to prioritize remote work from home and flexible hours, leaving coworking far behind in the evolution of workplace strategies.

According to the study, coworking is officially recognized as one of the four core models of New Work — the term coined by the study encompassing new approaches to work such as hybrid models, mobile work, and flexible schedules. However, the report notes that coworking is the least implemented form among the companies surveyed. Only 3% had introduced it in the previous six months, and adoption rates for longer periods were even lower.

Meanwhile, 82% of companies reported no current or future plans to integrate coworking options into their workforce policies.

While the use of coworking spaces by employees is acknowledged in the study, no specific data is given on the number of companies whose staff actively use such spaces. Moreover, coworking is largely absent from the regional breakdowns of New Work adoption and is not treated as a key driver of hybrid work strategies in Bavaria.

The emphasis instead is placed on more traditional remote work formats — particularly home office arrangements and flexible scheduling, which are widely adopted and increasingly structured within corporate policy.

The findings suggest a cautious approach among Bavarian businesses when it comes to integrating coworking into formal hybrid work policies. This hesitancy contrasts with trends in other European markets, where coworking is increasingly being recognized as a bridge between office and remote work — especially in secondary cities or for decentralized teams.

The full study, “Längerfristige Auswirkungen von New Work auf die Mobilität der Menschen in Bayern”, is available via the Bavarian Business Association at vbw-bayern.de and in PDF format.

This AI Generated Conversation Podcast summarize the full study here.

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