The cost of prime office space continued to climb in the third quarter of 2025, rising by 0.8 percent worldwide, according to Savills’ latest Prime Office Costs report. The increase takes the total average rise in costs over the past year to 3.3 percent, with rental growth now the main factor behind the trend. Savills reports that 25 of the 40 markets it tracks recorded higher average net effective occupier costs, which include rent and fit-out expenses. While global rents increased by an average of 0.9 percent during the quarter, fit-out and associated costs were largely unchanged, rising only 0.03 percent. More →

Younger workers are the most optimistic about their career prospects but also the most likely to look for new opportunities if their ambitions are not met, according to PwC’s 2025 Global Workforce Hopes & Fears Survey. The study, which gathered responses from 2,023 UK employees across 28 sectors, found that 62 percent of Generation Z professionals (aged 18 to 28) feel optimistic about the future of their roles, almost double the proportion of Generation X workers at 35 percent. Despite economic uncertainty and technological disruption, Gen Z also show the highest levels of motivation, with 71 percent saying they look forward to going to work compared to 55 percent of Gen X respondents. More →

The UK Cabinet Office has published updated functional guidance titled Managing Surplus Government Property, setting out how government departments should identify, evaluate and dispose of surplus real estate within the central government estate. The document was released on 10 November 2025. The guidance replaces the earlier Guide for the Disposal of Surplus Land and reflects a broadened scope, placing greater emphasis on reviewing multiple options and combining factors when considering disposal or reuse of property assets. More →

The new issue of Works magazine is now available for you to read online free here. As another transformative year for the workplace winds down, Works magazine continues to chronicle the most important ideas about people, places and technology. In this issue we have four case studies, a round up of new projects, a showroom full of new products and a whole section dedicated to materials. We profile one of the most influential figures in the industry.

Our round table in partnership with Flokk considers the nature and meaning of innovation in the 21st Century. Jo Knight asks how our attitude towards sustainability is shaped by our aesthetic sensibilities. We travel to Poland to see how one firm is applying ancient materials and crafts in modern design. Rob Kirkbride tracks the details of the biggest deal in the history of the office furniture market. And we look at how lessons from the past might still be relevant today. Plus there are loads more features, including our podcast series with Shaw Contract exploring the different facets of comfort.

Image: Basia Szafranska

One in six (17 percent) employers expect AI to shrink their workforce over the next year, with junior roles most at risk, according to the CIPD’s latest Labour Market Outlook which surveyed over 2,000 employers on their hiring, redundancy and pay plans.  Of those, almost two thirds (62 percent) believe that clerical, junior managerial, professional or administrative roles are most likely to be lost because of AI. The risk is highest in large private sector firms, where one in four (26 percent) expect headcount to fall, compared with 17 percent in the private sector overall and 20 percent in the public sector. More →