Soft Service Costs Increased by 8% in 2024, Says Colliers

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• Soft Service Costs Increased by 8% in 2024, Says Colliers

05 December 2025

Colliers’ latest Occupier Cost Index shows costs remain out of step with occupancy, with soft services increasing by 8 per cent in 2024.

The Occupier Cost Index outlines the cost for companies to keep a full-time employee in the office for a year. It draws on data from 4,000 buildings across 28 countries, covering 26.3 million sqm. It currently costs €9,809 per full-time equivalent; however, offices in Europe are only operating at 30-40 per cent occupancy.

This reveals a disconnect between usage and operating costs. If costs were calculated on actual office use, they would increase to €25,000-€33,000 per person.

“The start of the adaptive FM era is moving slowly. Technology exists to align services with real-time occupancy, but adoption is patchy. Those who act now will unlock significant value and efficiency.”

–Nicholas Marsh

Head of Enterprise FM Advisory, EMEA Occupier Services, Colliers

FMs Could Unlock Savings of 25%

According to Colliers, facilities managers could unlock savings of 25 per cent or more without compromising service quality, by aligning services with real-time occupancy. Overall FM costs fell by  1 per cent, however soft services costs jumped 8 per cent and IT costs rose 6 per cent.

Nicholas Marsh, Head of Enterprise FM Advisory, EMEA Occupier Services at Colliers, said: “The start of the adaptive FM era is moving slowly. Technology exists to align services with real-time occupancy, but adoption is patchy. Those who act now will unlock significant value and efficiency.”

Denise Hoogendoorn, Director of Strategic Consulting, EMEA Occupier Services at Colliers, added: “By embracing technology, FM leaders can deliver flexible, cost-effective services. The time for incremental change is over – this shift needs to accelerate.”

The full report can be found here. 

Picture: a photograph showing several people seated at a table in a modern, bright office. Image Credit: Unsplash

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 05 December 2025

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