Downtown office occupancy lags behind national average

For many Chicagoans who have returned to work downtown, this chart may be a head-scratcher.

Why it matters: Even though our downtown is showing signs of life, a new study says we are lagging behind the national average when it comes to average office occupancy levels.

• Kastle Systems studied key fob and keycard data from the 2,600 buildings and 41,000 businesses they work with in 47 states.

The big picture: The Loop is nowhere near pre-pandemic traffic even as the country moves towards a post-COVID reality.

• But don't tell that to folks standing in line for a sandwich from the Corner Bakery or drivers trying to hop on the Kennedy during rush hour.

Go deeper: Axios' Erica Pandey explores what this data means for the future of work.