REPORT: Connection is a public health priority

If you’re running a coworking space, you’re already on the front lines of one of the biggest social shifts of our time. You don’t just offer a desk and fast Wi-Fi. You offer something a lot more vital: connection.

And according to the new 2025 Social Connection in America Report, the rest of the country is catching up to what you already know: connection is not just good for people. It’s essential.

Let’s talk about what this report reveals, and how you can use the data to strengthen your messaging, shape your programming, and remind your members why your space matters. (And since I am more of a technologist than marketer, I asked the Coworks CMO, Lauren Walker, to read the report and offer some insights on how to use the stats in your messaging.)

Americans are disconnected in ways that go beyond feelings

We’ve been talking about loneliness a lot over the last few years. But this report shows that the bigger issue is disconnection on a structural level.

• 41% of adults feel lonely at least some of the time
• 39% have only 2 or fewer close relationships
• 72% get together with people they care about twice a month or less
• 67% don’t belong to any club or group
• 58% never volunteer or do something positive with neighbors

That’s not just about emotions. That’s about infrastructure. People are craving more meaningful, more frequent, more human interaction, and coworking spaces are one of the few places delivering that.

How to use this in your messaging:

Yes, you’re building community. But you are also rebuilding the infrastructure of connection. That’s bold, and it’s true.

Connection is a health and productivity asset

This report doesn't mince words: lacking social connection increases the risk of early death by 32%, stroke by 32%, and dementia by 50%. That’s on par with smoking and obesity.

And if you’re wondering what this means for your members as professionals and entrepreneurs? Social disconnection cost U.S. employers $154 billion in avoidable absenteeism in 2020 alone.

“Supportive relationships protect our mental well-being, reduce the risk of harm, and foster the trust and cooperation that make communities safer and more resilient.”

Your coworking space isn’t a perk. It’s part of the solution.

Trust, belonging, and helping each other still matter. And your space proves it.

Here’s the good news: 72% of adults report feeling a sense of belonging in their neighborhood. 59% say people generally get along. That’s the ember that can be fanned into a real fire of reconnection.

Coworking spaces offer that daily spark of belonging. A shared coffee. A lunch-and-learn. A hallway hello. Those moments  “build culture” and rebuild lives.

“Most Americans are objectively disengaged from their communities. But nearly half say people in their neighborhood can be trusted. These are building blocks we can grow from.”

Reframe your marketing: sell connection, not just space

Lauren has some ideas how you can use this data in your messaging:

Position your space as the antidote to isolation.
“Tired of working alone? We’re designed for people who want more than a desk.”

Use health-focused language in B2B outreach.
“Disconnection hurts productivity. Our space builds trust and resilience—for teams and individuals.”

Celebrate your members’ stories.
Use testimonials and interviews to spotlight moments of connection: “I met my cofounder here” or “This space is my creative home.”

Lean into local.
People still feel tied to their neighborhood. Market yourself as a community hub where that local spirit thrives.

A final thought from me, founder to operator

If you’ve felt like connection is your “soft value,” I want you to know that it’s actually your strongest one.

The Coworks platform exists to help you run your space more efficiently, so you can focus on what really matters: creating the space where people find each other.

This report validates what many of us have felt in our bones: the world is lonely. But your coworking space is one of the few places actively making it better. Keep doing that work. And if we can help you power it, we’d love to talk.

TL;DR takeaways for your next Instagram caption, newsletter, or pitch deck:

• 72% of adults get together with close relationships 2x/month or less. Your space brings people together every day.
  
  
• 41% of Americans feel lonely at least sometimes. Your space offers real belonging.
  
  
• Disconnection increases risk of death, stroke, and dementia. You offer connection that protects health.
  
  
• 67% don’t belong to any groups. You provide a community people can count on.

Let’s keep building spaces where connection is a feature and a foundation.