The barometer is based on results from Kastle's tracking of keycard, fob and KastlePresence app access data at properties where its solutions are used. Cities covered in the report include Austin, Houston, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, San Jose and Washington, D.C.

Kastle, which has customers in more than 2,600 buildings in 138 cities, has been tracking office occupancy rates since the pandemic began. At times, the 10-city occupancy rate has dropped below 20% overall with some cities dipping close to – or even below – 10% occupancy rates. In recent months, however, declining COVID infection rates have provided a boost to those seeking to bring workers back to the office, and widespread news reports have spotlighted some businesses and industries seeking to limit remote work and fill offices again.

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Kastle Systems noted that occupancy rates have been rising steadily since Labor Day, and the company projects rates to continue to climb in the weeks ahead.

Law firms showed especially strong growth during the Sept. 8 to Sept. 14 measurement period, rising nearly 5 points to 59.5% occupancy in the seven cities Kastle tracks in that niche. Law firms' highest occupancy rate came in July when occupancies reached 60.6%.

Each of the cities tracked as part of the barometer saw major increases in occupancy during the week, including a jump of 8.7 percentage points in New York to 46.6% occupancy. Law firms in the city led the charge, rising 9 points to 51.4% office occupancy – the highest occupancy of New York law firms since the pandemic began. Austin had the highest overall rate of occupancy of the cities tracked at 60.5%.