JenaWirtschaft: Office market report 2025

The Jena Economic Development Corporation (JenaWirtschaft) is presenting the office market report for Jena for the tenth time. Since 2016, the report has provided well-founded real estate industry data, such as vacancy rates, available space, rental prices and market development, on an annual basis - and has become a recognized location barometer during this time. One of the main findings this year: the office market is undergoing a transformation process triggered by economic uncertainties, rising interest rates and structural changes such as the trend towards working from home.

Indicator for the location for 10 years

Over the past ten years, the Jena Office Market Report has become a recognized barometer for the location.

"When we launched the first report in 2016, we wanted to create an objective, transparent and valid data basis - for ourselves, for investors, companies and for urban development as a whole," says Markus Henkenmeier, authorized signatory of Wirtschaftsförderung Jena.

"Right from the start, we are using the same real estate industry standards in Jena as in Leipzig or Berlin," says Patrick Werner, Project Manager at JenaWirtschaft. "This allows us to achieve a level of market transparency that is unique in Central Germany." The report shows where demand is shifting, which submarkets are coming under pressure and where there is potential for new projects.

A treasure trove of data

The strength of the office market report lies not only in the annual analysis, but above all in the long-term database.

"We now have over a decade of market data - that's a real treasure trove," says Henkenmeier. "The data enables us to understand developments, classify market changes and derive location strategies from them."

The report not only outlines the changes in the market as a whole, according to the business development experts, but also provides extensive detailed knowledge on concrete developments in individual sub-locations and specific sectors. This allows the location to react to changes in a targeted manner.

Location and quality dominate demand in 2024

Jena's office market is undergoing a visible transformation process and is thus following the nationwide trend. Declining take-up and a slightly higher vacancy rate of 2.4 % reflect the change in demand: companies are acting more cautiously, opting for smaller and better equipped spaces in integrated locations, which above all also have lower ancillary costs. Unrenovated properties in peripheral locations are therefore coming under increasing pressure.

At the same time, the project pipeline remains in motion: With over 65,000 m² under construction, it has reached an all-time high, driven by flagship projects such as the ZEISS high-tech location, the Inselplatz campus and the "lab2fab" start-up center. This speaks for the confidence of those responsible for construction in Jena as a business location.

Despite the uncertain conditions, the rent level is stable: the average rent is €11.30/m² and the prime rent is €16.00/m². These figures prove that scarce, high-quality space is still in demand and that the market is being evaluated more according to quality than quantity.

Transformation in the coming years too

The conclusion: The office space market in Jena cannot escape the nationwide trends and is undergoing an ongoing transformation process that brings with it both opportunities and challenges. Reliable data is therefore more important than ever for project developers, investors and politicians. With ten years of continuous reporting, the JenaWirtschaft office market report provides a unique basis for understanding market movements and making informed decisions in the future.

The full report is available online on the JenaWirtschaft website.