March 22, 2021 – Employers are feeling “slightly more confident” about plans to return to the office in the Loop, according to Chicago Loop Alliance.

The organization recently surveyed employers in the Loop and says 80 percent of those responding are still uncertain about when their full staff will return to work in the Loop – but that is down from 87 percent in January.

Currently, only 26 percent of employers responding to the CLA survey have zero employees working on-site in the Loop.

The alliance also says pedestrian activity in the Loop is starting to increase. CLA calls it “a noticeable uptick” in number of people walking, parking, and working in office buildings in the Loop, starting in mid-February.

“With improved weather, looser indoor dining restrictions, and the opening of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Monet and Bisa Butler exhibits, we finally began to see some measurable good news toward the end of February,” said CLA President/CEO Michael Edwards (left). “Now that the United Center is open for vaccine administration, we’re hopeful that all of these factors push this positive trend further.”

Chicago Loop Alliance is tasked with attracting people to the Loop and accelerating economic recovery.