Melbourne CBD workers’ grim Covid comeback recovery revealed

New data has shined the light on the dire state of one Australian city almost a year after its crippling lockdown restrictions ended.

New data has revealed the dire state of Melbourne’s CBD almost a year after the city’s crippling Covid-19 lockdown restrictions ended.

The figures, released by the Property Council, indicate just one in five workers are showing up to the office during the course of a typical working week.

Overall, the average office occupancy has dipped from 49 per cent in June to just 38 per cent in July, with the drop coinciding with continually spiking Covid cases, resulting in tens of thousands of new infections each week.

Elsewhere in the country, workers’ attendance in Sydney dropped from 55 to 52 per cent, Brisbane dipped from 64 to 53 per cent and Adelaide’s changed from 71 to 64 per cent.

There’s been a fall in the amount of people working in the Melbourne CBD in recent times. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Canberra and Perth were the only markets to record increases in office occupancy, from 53 to 61 per cent and 65 to 71 per cent respectively.

Property Council chief executive Ken Morrison said the results were disappointing but unsurprising due to the recent rise in case numbers.

“Office occupancy numbers have gone backwards for the first time in six months as a wave of omicron and flu cases kept workers away from the office,” he said.

“We have been seeing a steady increase in the number of workers retuning to offices, but this stalled in June and has now declined in most capitals, which is disappointing, but unsurprising.

“Looking ahead, we are encouraged by the fact this Omicron wave seems to have peaked and that spring is around the corner. Hopefully, this means the recovery’s momentum can resume.”

Mr Morrison went on to explain low levels of CBD occupancy needed to be factored in when governments were considering measures to manage the pandemic.

“The losers are not the office tenants or the owners of office buildings, it’s all those retailers, cafes and restaurants who rely on office workers as their customers,” he said.

“We want those businesses and their jobs to survive because they give our CBDs such vibrancy.

Similar dips have occurred in most capital cities. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

“Governments and health authorities need to remember that asking people to work from home is not a zero cost exercise – the costs are real and we see them in the vibrancy of our CBDs.”

Victoria’s shadow minister for jobs, small business and CBD recovery, David Southwick, said the state needs city workers to help the CBD recover.

“Hybrid working may be here to stay, but it’s clear Daniel Andrews’ three day a week target for public servants isn’t close to being met,” he said.

“Melbourne will never be the world’s most liveable city ever again with only one in five people showing up throughout the week. We need real solutions to return confidence and vibrancy to the CBD.”

The Victorian state government has been contacted for comment.