A survey of 450 Sutherland Shire residents has found that hybrid work remains the dominant pattern, with 64% working from home at least two days per week—down only slightly from pandemic peaks.

The survey, conducted by the Sutherland Shire Business Chamber in partnership with Western Sydney University, provides the first local data on work patterns since return-to-office mandates became common across many industries.

Key Findings

Work patterns:

• 64% work hybrid (2+ days from home)
• 22% are fully office-based
• 14% are fully remote

Commute impacts:

• Average pre-pandemic commute: 52 minutes one way
• Average current commute (hybrid workers): 38 minutes
• 71% said commute time is a major factor in job choice

Local spending:

• Hybrid workers spend 40% more at local Shire businesses compared to full office workers
• Weekday spending in Cronulla, Miranda, and Sutherland has increased 23% since 2019

What Employers Are Saying

Local employers report mixed experiences with return-to-office policies.

“We tried mandating four days a week,” said the director of a Caringbah engineering firm. “Lost three good engineers to companies offering more flexibility. Now we require two days and leave the rest to individual teams.”

A Miranda-based accounting practice took the opposite approach, going fully flexible. “Our best staff wanted to work around school hours and family commitments. If we forced rigid schedules, they’d leave for firms that don’t.”

But some roles genuinely need in-person presence. A Gymea childcare centre manager noted: “Our work can’t be done remotely. What we’ve seen is wage pressure—people can get hybrid jobs paying the same or more, so we’ve had to increase pay to retain staff.”

Impact on Local Business Districts

The survey revealed divergent impacts across Shire business areas:

Winners:

• Cafes near residential areas (more weekday customers)
• Gyms with flexible hours
• Lunch spots in suburban strips
• Coworking spaces

Challenges:

• Traditional 9-5 lunch venues
• Dry cleaners (fewer suits)
• CBD-adjacent businesses

Miranda Westfield has adapted by extending weekday hours and programming more evening events, recognising that shopping patterns have shifted later in the day.

The Coworking Boom

Three new coworking spaces have opened in the Shire since 2024:

• WorkHaus Cronulla: 45 desks, opened June 2025
• The Office Collective, Sutherland: 30 desks plus meeting rooms, opened September 2025
• Miranda Business Hub: 60 desks at Miranda Station, opened November 2025

Membership across all three exceeds 85% occupancy, suggesting strong demand for professional workspace outside the home that doesn’t require a CBD commute.

“Our members want somewhere to focus that isn’t their kitchen table,” explains the Miranda Business Hub manager. “They come two or three days a week and work from home the rest.”

What Local Government Is Planning

Sutherland Shire Council has commissioned further research on local employment patterns to inform infrastructure planning.

Areas of focus include:

• Public transport frequency to local business hubs
• Car parking at suburban centres
• Pedestrian access and amenity improvements
• Supporting local retail in residential areas

Council’s economic development team is also developing programs to help local businesses adapt to changing foot traffic patterns.

Future Outlook

Survey respondents were asked about future expectations:

• 78% expect to maintain their current work pattern for the next two years
• 15% expect to work from home more
• Only 7% expect to return to office full-time

The research suggests that hybrid work isn’t a temporary arrangement but a permanent shift in how Shire residents work—with lasting implications for local businesses, transport, and community planning.

The full survey results are available from the Sutherland Shire Business Chamber website.