Toronto Office SpaceThe GTA Office Market is the sixth largest market in North America. It is the largest office market in the country. As of the end of 2006, it made up 40% of the total amount of office space in Canada.

The GTA office market (including the City of Toronto and the surrounding four regions of Durham, York, Peel and Halton) contains about 14,900,000m2 of office space. It is the sixth largest office market in North America.

Since 1997, a little more than 400,000 m2 has been added to the Toronto Downtown market, primarily through the conversion of old industrial buildings to office use. In the Toronto Midtown, from a peak in 1992 of 1,795,000 m2 the total space inventory declined to 1,614,000 m2 by 2005.

Within the GTA there are three areas: Downtown, Midtown (which extends from Bloor Street to north of Eglinton, along the Yonge Street spine), and Suburban (which includes all other areas in the City of Toronto. Additionally the GTA suburbs from Burlington in the west, to Richmond Hill in the north and Ajax to the East).

Vacancy Rates
Area 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
GTA 7.8% 10.7% 11.2% 10.4% 8.5%
Downtown 6.6 9.8 11.4 9.7 9.0
Midtown 5.9 6.7 10.0 10.8 8.3
Suburban 9.0 11.6 11.3 10.9 9.8

Toronto office rental rates are anticipated to remain relatively stable over the months to come, rising by small increments as the market remains tight and slightly inclined in landlords' favour.

Check listings of available office space in Troronto.

Period of job declines across the different categories was experienced from 2000- 2003, reflecting the bursting of the “dot-com” bubble and a mini-recession. Total employment fell by 37,000 jobs during this time period, office employment fell by 30,000, and office employment Downtown Toronto dropped by 16,000 jobs.

Toronto employment rebounded between 2003-2005. While total employment grew by about 11,400 jobs, office employment across the City increased by about 2,200 jobs. Downtown office employment grew by about 5,100 jobs.

The number of office firms in the City has not matched the rising and falling employment totals. The number of firms has fallen almost every year for the past fifteen years. There are about 7,400 office establishments in the Downtown Toronto, a drop from 1990’s level of 9,500 establishments. The average office firm size is increasing as a result— from an average of 17.9 employees per firm in 1990 to 21.7 employees per firm in 2005.

The Midtown market's areas offer distinct options for tenants, with the southerly Bloor area at the north end of the Toronto's downtown and the more northerly St. Clair and Eglinton area offering affordable rents while still providing access to amenities and subway lines. The differing advantages these areas offer to prospective tenants mean that the Toronto's Midtown market has the capability to provide for the needs of many businesses. The market remains active and should continue to maintain its stability, with rental rates moderated by available space.

While every business is different there are a few common factors that should be taken into consideration when evaluating office space for lease in Toronto.

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