Research released today from Deskwanted – the leading online portal for finding shared workspace – reveals a 89% rise in the number of shared workspaces in the world in the last 12 months. According to The Global Coworking Census*, conducted by Deskwanted, there are now 2498 coworking spaces around the globe, compared to just 1320 in February 2012, demonstrating a clear trend towards collaborative working environments.

Demand for shared workspace rises by 89% as the independent workforce hits 1 billion

Download full census here

A growing desire to succeed alone, means an estimated 1 billion** people, 37.2%** of the world’s workforce are mobile working, either self-employed, working as freelancers, or part of a small business start-up. As a result, the demand for shared workspace has risen sharply.

The Global Coworking Census, reveals a more than a 300% increase since 2010 when there were just 600 coworking spaces – and this number looks set to grow as more people discover the benefits of working alongside others. The United States has the most shared workspaces (781), followed by Germany (230), United Kingdom (166) and Australia (62).

Joel Dullroy, the founder of Deskwanted, explains: “We have seen the number of coworking spaces worldwide double every year since the first space opened in San Francisco in 2006 and, as these figures show, this new way of working keeps gathering momentum in the US.”

Linda van de Sande, a behavioural psychologist***, adds: “Humans are naturally sociable animals. Working with others, rather than sitting alone at your kitchen table, is vital for your emotional well-being. Social interaction reduces stress levels and motivates us to achieve our goals. Many coworkers report shared workspaces increase their productivity, fuel their creativity and give them a stronger sense of achievement – not to mention the invaluable business contacts they make.”

Dullroy continues:

“When we set up Deskwanted we wanted to provide a one-stop shop where freelancers, and start-ups, could find affordable, flexible desk space in a collaborative and inspiring working environment. However, coworking has now become an exciting global movement which is transforming the way freelancers and small companies work, and we now have shared work spaces across the globe – from San Francisco to South Africa and Australia.”

About Coworking

• Coworking began in San Francisco in 2006
• Coworking is what happens when a group of independent workers carry out various tasks in a shared workspace, usually called a coworking space
• Coworking spaces are friendly, shared offices where independent workers gather to work, interact and feel productive
• Coworkers often report shared workspaces increase their productivity, fuel their creativity, give them a stronger sense of achievement and