The coworking sector in Spain is experiencing a phase of growth and expansion. Although in other countries around Europe the market is already fully developed, the main Spanish cities are catching up at a staggering speed. As Oscar García Toledo, Manager Director at First workplaces reveals, ‘everything indicates that within the next 10 years the area dedicated to flexible spaces in Spain will represent 25%. Right now it is around 2%’. In fact, according to the ‘European Flexible Office Spotlight’ report, Madrid and Barcelona rank 12th and 13th in the demand for this type of workspace.
The Catalonian capital stands above the Spanish average when it comes to renting coworking spaces with almost 10% of the absorption total in 2018, against 9.4% in Madrid. Demand in Barcelona grows year after year and, furthermore, the prediction is that it will continue to do so in the short-term given the economic growth, the creation of employment, the boom of the real estate market and the innovation of the city.
Barcelona, Spain’s flexible-office leader
Interestingly, a look at the data allows us to see how the expansion of new workspaces has taken place in the Catalonian capital. In 2008, according to the Catalonian real estate consulting firm Forcadell, flexible spaces were basically non-existent. But this new model became a hit in Barcelona and went from barely 5 000m2 in 2016 to over 200.000m2 a year later in 2022.
Barcelona leads the ranking of the coworking sector in Spain. But… why? Firstly we must understand that this is due to social change. The way people work has changed and the things we value now were not so important before: flexibility, location, related services… All of this is positive when it comes to increasing the demand for flexible workspaces in Europe and Spain.
Secondly, we also have to explain the reason why Barcelona is so successful in the coworking sector within Europe. The Catalonian capital is an excellent hotbed: competitive prices in comparison to other European countries, an environment which is closely linked to innovation and technology and which attracts start-ups from all over the world, a good pool of talented and skilled professionals, an excellent quality of life and good connections with other cities within Spain and abroad.
All of this renders the capital an extremely interesting location for companies and explains the exponential growth of the demand for flexible workspaces in Barcelona over the past years.
First workplaces, one of the biggest flex office operators in Spain, offers 3 coworking spaces in Barcelona, Rambla de Catalunya (C/ Rambla de Catalunya, 18), Sants (C/ Carrer de Tarragona, 161) and Fira Barcelona Pl. d'Europa, 43, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. If you would like to find out more, you can schedule a visit, no strings attached.
