With improved occupancy planning and continued return-to-office efforts, global office utilization is at 54% — up from 49% in 2024, according to JLL’s Global Occupancy Planning Benchmark Report 2025. For North America, the utilization rate (percent of time individual seats are occupied over a specific time) is 48%, compared to 44% in 2024; the 2025 target was 77%. 

Shared workstations, touchdown spaces, and bench seating are now more prevalent, while dedicated offices have declined.

The 2025 Wood Industry Almanac is sponsored by IMA Schelling Group.

Click on the infographic to enlarge. 

Quick Stats (Includes items not shown in print.)
• The Business Research Co. projects the global institutional and office furniture market, $264.98 billion USD in 2025, to hit $352.14 billion in 2029 at 7.4% CAGR.

• Allied Market projects the global hospitality market to reach $6.4 billion by 2033, growing at a 3.9% CAGR.

• Happy workers are productive workers. The State of the Global Workplace: 2025 Report by Gallup finds the United States and Canada are tied for the highest regional percentage of engaged employees and the third highest regional percentage of thriving employees.

• Market.us Media projects the global healthcare furniture market to expand from $9.8 billion USD in 2023 to $18.6 billion by 2033 (CAGR 6.6%).

• Estimated at $15.3 billion in 2024, Persistence Market Research projects the U.S. office furniture market to reach $23.2 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.4% (2025-2032).

• ResearchAndMarkets forecasts the global school furniture market size to grow from $5.2 billion USD in 2024 to $8.6 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 5.47% (2025-2033).

• WiseGuy Reports projects the global luxury office furniture market to grow to $10.4 billion USD  by 2032 at a CAGR of 5.02% (2024-2032).

• In-office attendance varies by industry, with healthcare having the highest demand: 70% 5 days, 18% 3-4 days, 8% 1-2 days, and 4% less than 1 day, according to Steelcase Leader Research 2025. Company average in comparison: 46%, 26%, 16%, and 13% respectively.

Market Data Sources: Business & Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Assn. (BIFMA), S&P Global Market Intelligence, StatCan/Statistics Canada, U.S. Census Bureau/Foreign Trade Division, JLL, Steelcase/Steelcase Leader Research, The Business Research Co., Allied Market Research/Allied Analytics, Gallup, ResearchAndMarkets.com, Market.us Media, WiseGuy Reports, Persistence Market Research. Category: Contract furniture includes: business/office furniture, government furniture, home office, education furniture, healthcare furnishings, institutional furniture, hospitality furniture.

More data on North American woodworking and the specific wood product market segments can be found in the December 2025 FDMC Wood Industry Almanac. digital edition or the online almanac articles. Also, find market data year-round at WoodworkingNetwork.com/news/almanac-market-data.