A report by CoworkingCafe’s latest study explores how coworking is evolving in response to shifting work dynamics across America’s 20 fastest-growing labor markets, which includes Newark, New Jersey’s most populous city.
CoworkingCafe analyzed 102 U.S. cities to see which ones recorded the highest increases across four key workforce indicators — employment growth, working-age population change, migration inflows and remote work rates. After identifying the cities with the fastest-growing labor pools, CoworkingCafe looked at their coworking activity to see how these shifts translated into new flexible workspace developments.
According to its findings, Newark ranks 13th for workforce growth, with its coworking sector reflecting that momentum, recording the third-highest increase among the top 20 cities analyzed.
Here are the key takeaways for Newark:
- Expanding workforce: The city’s working-age population (ages 20–64) grew by 8% between 2020 and 2023, the fifth-highest increase among the top 20 cities analyzed, underscoring Newark’s growing talent base.
- Remote work growth: The number of remote workers more than doubled to 7,740 in 2023 from 3,053 in 2020, raising the share of telecommuters to 6.1% from 3% and ranking sixth among the top 20 for remote work growth.
- Employment gains: Newark’s job market strengthened in the same timeframe, with the employment rate rising by 0.6% to 55%.
- Migration momentum: The city recorded a 12% influx of working-age residents in 2023.
- Local coworking market evolution: Reflecting these workforce shifts, Newark’s coworking inventory increased by 86% between 2023 and 2025 to 13 flexible spaces from seven as remote work and population growth continued to boost local demand for flexible offices.
Newark is also benefiting from the city’s affordability (especially given its proximity to New York City) and continues to attract new professionals.
Nationally, cities like Irvine, Atlanta, and Miami led the workforce growth ranking, while Gilbert, Ariz; Chandler, Ariz; and Newark posted the steepest coworking expansions — underscoring how shifts in local labor markets continue to influence flexible office growth nationwide.
