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Global research byInternational WorkplaceGroup reveals the best “Technology and the rapid adoption of AI are rapidlyreshaping how we work and where we live, turningcommuter towns, or so-called dormitory towns, intovibrant hubs for working and living. The idea that everymorning, office workers wake early, jump into pollutingcars or overcrowded trains, and travel many miles to their Introduction New research by International Workplace Group (IWG)has revealed the best commuter towns around theworld for hybrid workers to live. From the plentifulgreen spaces of Edison, US to the golden beaches of IWG’s inaugural Commuter Town Index – the firstglobal ranking of its kind – was drawn up usinga number of criteria, including transport links,amenities and flexible workspace accessibility. Itreflects a growing shift in the geography of work, most productive, professionals are turning theirbacks on long and expensive daily commutes.Their focus is now on flexibility: finding a locationthat allows them to build their careers withoutsacrificing community, convenience or quality of “The way that people work and live is beingredefined,” says Mark Dixon, Founder and CEOof IWG. “Workers are now prioritising towns thatoffer access to high-quality workspaces on their “We’re talking about a major economicrealignment that will bring greater prosperityand greater opportunities to formerly sleepysatellite towns,” says Dixon. “No longer places As companies increasingly enable their teamsto work where and when they feel happiest and A new work paradigm Empowered by their employers, younger workersare among those most eagerly embracing theshift to a new work paradigm that foregoes longdaily commutes to a faraway office in favour ofenjoying the benefits of working close to home.IWG research reveals that 75% of Millennials In a similar move, AT&T is planning to relocate itsDowntown Dallas HQ to a northern suburb in amove it says will reduce commute times for the “It’s a paradigm shift,” says Dixon. “Peoplesimply don’t want the stress and expense oftravelling long distances every day when they The research also shows that only 4% of peopleglobally are willing to commute for more than anhour to their workplace on a daily basis, while The Hybrid Bonus Cutting down on the daily commuteboosts wellbeing – and brings Companies are increasingly recognising thedesire of their employees to avoid the long dailycommute and are therefore adopting platform 51% It’s a paradigm shift, people simply don’twant the stress and expense of travelling longdistances every day when they could work just 43%since working in a hybrid way.say they are able to spend Real estate firm Colliers recently announcedthat it was leaving its Uptown Dallas office infavour of a new location further north, which is“closer to where our employees live, reducing and family. $30kHow much hybrid workerscould save by working locallyfour days a week. Mark Dixon Driving downcosts The new work paradigm also bringsconsiderable advantages for companies, in the Research by IWG has found that flexibleworking can reduce organisations’ real estatecosts by as much as 55%. More than a third(36%) of CEOs say the cost-savings enabledby more flexible real estate options are a maindriver of their decision to allow their employees while boostingproductivity Other research by IWG and Arup found thatby 2030, flexible working could increaseproductivity by more than 10% in both the USand the UK, boosting the countries’ respectiveeconomies by a staggering $129 billion and £24billion each year. And IWG’s latest State of the The world’s bestcommuter towns Which of the world’s commuter towns offer hybridworkers the best mix of transport links, local amenities IWG’s index assessed towns across a number of factors,with each scored out of 10. Figures were then totalled The factors considered when ranking the world’s best commuter towns: 6.Wi-fi speed7.Housing costs8.Culture 1.Transport links2.Travel time to major cities3.Access to green spaces4.Walkability Best Commuter Town: Runner-up: Wollongong, New South Wales Geelong, Victoria AUSTRALIA Also listed: Mandurah, Western AustraliaGold Coast, QueenslandPort Adelaide, South Australia Affectionately known as ‘The Gong’, this coastal hub of more than 300,000 residents is renownedfor its numerous beaches, its surf culture and the stunning Illawarra mountain range, whichprovides the town’s dramatic backdrop. Other pluses include great weather, a relatively low costof living compared to Sydney, 50 miles to the north, and a thriving café culture. Wollongong also A postcard-pretty port city 40 miles southwest of Melbourne, Geelong was recently votedAustralia’s most popular regional town, ending a two-year winning streak for Queensland’sSunshine Coast. Geelong is home to a growing arts scene and an impressive restaurant culture.Above all, it’s also a convenient gateway to the scenic Bellarine Peninsula and the Great Ocean Bes