In the last several years, the workforce has undergone a permanent shift. Remote and hybrid work are no longer temporary adjustments. They are now standard operating models for modern businesses. The number of freelancers, contractors, and distributed professionals continues to rise as companies prioritize flexibility, speed, and cost control. By the mid-2020s, large research firms consistently reported that the majority of knowledge workers spent at least part of their week working remotely, and many organizations have since formalized remote-first or hybrid-first policies.
At the same time, businesses are operating under tighter margins. Inflationary pressure, higher wages, ongoing supply chain volatility, and rising customer expectations have forced leaders to rethink how work gets done. The question many businesses are asking in 2026 is not whether to outsource, but how to do it strategically without sacrificing quality or control. Increasingly, the answer is virtual talent. To better understand why, let’s take a closer look at key virtual assistant statistics shaping how companies scale in 2026.
Surprising Virtual Assistant Facts
Virtual assistant research continues to show steady growth in outsourced and remote support roles. Work-from-home opportunities have become more attractive to highly skilled professionals, while businesses benefit from access to experienced talent without the cost burden of traditional hiring. As global education levels rise and remote collaboration tools mature, virtual assistants are no longer limited to basic administrative tasks.
- 59% of businesses cite cost savings as the main reason for using outsourced workers. (Zippia)
- Businesses can save as much as 78% of their operating costs by hiring virtual assistants compared to in-house workers. (Entrepreneur)
- 66% of businesses in the US outsource at least one department. (Zippia)
- 50% of the U.S. workforce could be virtual by 2028. (Freelancers Union)
- 91% of virtual assistants in the United States have a college degree. (Zippia)
- Companies across the nation have hired more than 2 million outsourced workers in the 2000s. (Zippia)
Virtual Assistant Statistics By Industry
Nearly every industry can benefit from virtual assistants, but adoption varies based on workflow complexity and customer demands. In recent years, outsourcing has expanded well beyond administrative support into revenue-generating and operational roles.
- Technology continues to lead in virtual assistant adoption, particularly in operations, QA, and support roles.
- A significant portion of top-performing real estate teams have used virtual assistants to scale transaction volume and improve response times.
- Industries most likely to outsource include Information Technology, Finance and Accounting, Healthcare, Real Estate, and Professional Services.
Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Additional trends show that many virtual assistants hold business-related degrees, making them effective across multiple industries. Customer service remains the most common entry point for virtual assistants, followed closely by administrative support, sales operations, and marketing coordination. For small and mid-sized businesses, outsourcing is frequently used to improve efficiency, reduce burnout, and allow internal teams to focus on higher-value work.
Virtual Assistant Statistics By Profession
Virtual assistants come from diverse professional backgrounds. Many previously worked as administrative assistants, customer support specialists, project coordinators, or operations managers. These roles translate well to virtual environments, where attention to detail, communication, and adaptability are essential. In 2026, virtual assistants are increasingly embedded into sales teams, executive operations, marketing departments, and customer experience workflows rather than operating on the margins of the business.
Virtual Assistant Demographics
The virtual assistant workforce also reflects a broad and increasingly diverse talent pool. Women continue to make up the majority of virtual assistants, though male participation has steadily increased over the last decade. In the U.S., many virtual assistants are mid-career professionals, often bringing years of prior corporate or agency experience. Racial and ethnic diversity within the virtual assistant workforce further expands access to multilingual and culturally fluent talent, which is especially valuable for customer-facing roles.
Virtual Assistant Salary Statistics
One of the most compelling reasons businesses continue to hire virtual assistants is cost efficiency. Even when hiring U.S.-based virtual assistants, companies typically save significantly compared to hiring full-time employees with benefits, office space, and payroll overhead.
- Most virtual assistants are paid hourly or on flexible contracts.
- U.S. virtual assistants with early career experience earn competitive salaries, while highly experienced professionals command higher rates comparable to specialized in-house roles.
- Average hourly rates for U.S. virtual assistants generally fall in the low-to-mid $20s per hour, depending on skill set and experience.
For businesses hiring globally, the cost savings can be even more substantial, while still maintaining high standards through managed services and structured oversight.
Benefits Of Hiring Virtual Assistants
Because virtual assistants work remotely, businesses save on office space, equipment, benefits, and long-term employment risk. Virtual assistants can be hired full-time, part-time, or for specific functions, giving leaders flexibility as business needs change.
- Full-time virtual assistants can reduce annual operating costs by up to 70–80%.
- Remote teams consistently report higher productivity compared to fully in-office models.
- A large percentage of work handled by virtual assistants was previously performed by in-house staff, often at a much higher cost.
- Virtual assistants tend to take fewer sick days and experience lower burnout when workloads are well managed.
- Multiple studies continue to show measurable productivity gains in remote and distributed teams.
If your company is looking to scale efficiently in 2026 without adding unnecessary overhead, virtual assistants remain one of the most practical and proven solutions. Understanding the data is the first step. The next step is finding the right talent and structure to support your growth. And if you’re reading this blog on our website, then you’ve already found it… Let’s talk!
Virtual Assistant Statistics FAQs
Have questions after reading our virtual assistant statistics? We have answers.
