Click here for 2019 coworking industry events and conferences
A year ago we made some bold coworking industry predictions. Nostradamus would be proud. In 2017 the industry saw robust growth, community specialization, and an increase in enterprise corporations moving into shared workspaces. In 2017 leading brands, including Industrious Office and Bond Collective, began to emerge and coworking space software also evolved to accommodate the industry's needs.
So what will 2018 bring for the industry? In late December 2017, the Harvard Business Review predicted rapid growth with the numbers of coworking space members increasing from 1.8 million today to 3.8 million by 2020. The billion-dollar industry is leaving its impression changing both the landscape and the thinking within the workspace industry.
Thus we expect 2018 will be another year of growth for the coworking industry. Two counter-trends will drive upcoming growth. One is increasing demand from large companies. Facebook, IBM, HSBC, Salesforce, Merck, McKinsey, Microsoft, and others already rent coworking space. While this list is largely technology companies, other industries will begin to realize the flexibility coworking provides their budget and balance sheet. One could argue the shared workspace is not really coworking anymore.
The counter-trend is the rise of independent workers. This group is expected to make up 40% of the US workforce by 2020. Many newly independent employees start in their home office or coffee shop. Over time, many realize they can have more productive client meetings with amenities like conference rooms. And that being part of a coworking community can benefit them both socially and professionally. This can drive a move into a shared workspace, and especially suburban coworking.
If you're just beginning to investigate the industry or if you're an experienced space operator, 2018 welcomes conferences perfect for learning about industry trends and networking with like-minded colleagues. Coworking has gone global so it is not surprising to see coworking events span the globe.
What: Coworking Europe
Make plans now to attend one (or more!) of these events to boost. They are a great chance to boost your industry knowledge and network with experts. As sponsors or participants of many of these conferences, the Greetly team looks forward to seeing you there!