Switzerland: 70% of coworking operators expect a positive or very positive business outlook for 2025

Coworking spaces across Switzerland are looking ahead to 2025 with renewed confidence, according to the latest member survey conducted by Coworking Switzerland.

The study reveals that 70.5% of operators anticipate a positive or very positive business outlook for the coming year, a sign of continued momentum in the flexible workspace industry.

The financial backbone of many coworking spaces remains stable, with private offices proving to be the most consistently profitable asset.

These offices show a utilization rate of 58.8%, ahead of open coworking areas at 47.3% and meeting rooms at 38.9%.

The reliability of private offices with the flexibility and community benefits of open coworking areas, offers a sustainable path forward for operators seeking long-term profitability, says the Swiss association.

Community engagement continues to be central to the coworking model.

Most surveyed operators (65.6%) remains fairly small. They have fewer than 100 regular members on average, and 90% say fewer than 50 people use their spaces on a daily basis. While these numbers highlight the intimate scale of many Swiss coworking spaces, comments Coworking Switzerland, they also underscore the importance of fostering strong community bonds. Events and regular engagement strategies are seen as key tools in boosting member retention and attracting new users.

When it comes to standing out in a competitive market, operators identify location (24.8%), community (22.2%), and infrastructure (17.1%) as the most critical differentiators. These insights point to the growing need for coworking brands to communicate their unique value propositions clearly and strategically—whether through their physical positioning, the strength of their community, or the quality of their offerings.

The sector is still in a growth phase, with over half of the coworking spaces in Switzerland (53.3%) established in or after 2019. A majority of these are classified as extra small or small spaces (54.1%). Zurich, in particular, has seen rapid development, expanding from 19 locations covering 28,000 square meters in 2019 to 50 locations spanning 75,000 square meters in 2024, according to data from the international broker JLL.

Importantly, coworking is no longer limited to urban centers, underlines Coworking Switzerland.

As early as 2020, there were more than 50 coworking spaces operating in rural or non-central areas, a trend that Coworking Switzerland reports is continuing across its network. This signals a shift in work patterns and a growing acceptance of flexible office models beyond traditional city-based hubs.

Despite the growth, coworking and flexible workspaces currently account for just 1% of Switzerland’s total office market. However, operators are optimistic that this share could rise significantly—to between 6% and 10%—over the next few years. As traditional office tenants, says the association, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, increasingly look for turnkey solutions that require minimal upfront investment, coworking providers are positioned to meet this demand.