Office Hub recently published its 2018-2019 Australian Coworking Market Report, which considers the growth and evolution of the flexible workspace sector in Australia over the past year.

Soaring confidence in Australian market from global operators As they continue to lease more commercial space and open thousands of square metres in capital cities, major players are displaying fresh confidence in Australia’s flexible segment.

The rise of niche and industry-specific spaces As more operators enter Australia, there is a growing precedence for industry-specific spaces, gender-focused offices and other specialisations as operators strive to find a niche in an oversupplied sector.

Fresh uptake of peer-to-peer office sharing The peer-to-peer economy is fuelling considerable growth in office sharing, with more than 39 per cent of workspace deals in Australia in the peer-to-peer segment.

Flexible Workspace User Profile in Australia According to the report, “Little has changed in terms of the business industries utilising flexible office space around Australia.” However, what does need to be noted is that “The typical coworking profile in Australia seems to no longer be startups or entrepreneurs, but established companies seeking benefits beyond the simple ability to grow within a space.” Professional services firms are the biggest occupier of flexible space in Australia.

The top motivators include: Geographical location Business expansion Lease ending Moving out of a home office New branch office New business or startup Temporary space Upgrading office Need less space Save money Coworking in Australia: A Brief Picture One growing trend in the flexible workspace industry is the rise in niche spaces across global markets.

In Victoria specifically, the market is divided into two segments, big operators that target the corporate market and local operators tha.