Columbus Office Market Report

Diversified economy continues to aid vacancy. A labor market anchored by government, education, and healthcare institutions, utilizing a talent pipeline from the third-largest U.S. university by student population, provides support for Columbus offices even amid economic uncertainty. Move-ins by firms in chemical manufacturing, data infrastructure, insurance, and other private industries contributed to the strongest post-pandemic year for metrowide net absorption in 2025, roughly tripling the best annual performance in this period. Demand is expected to grow further this year, positioning Columbus for the second-largest year-over-year vacancy compression nationwide in 2026. At the submarket level, however, trends vary. Vacancy rose downtown last year, especially among Class A properties, as leases for larger spaces slowed. Demand is instead shifting toward smaller footprints. East Columbus, with its older office stock, continues to report higher Class B and C vacancy, as demand remains concentrated in more modern, amenity-rich nodes such as the Worthington-Flint Corridor.