In the last few years, the workforce has shifted dramatically. The number of freelancers and gig workers has increased significantly as more jobs went remote or hybrid. In fact, Gartner found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 90% of employers encouraged or required remote work. At the same time, supply chain issues and rising inflation have reduced operating budgets. So what are businesses doing to save money while still meeting client demands? They’re hiring virtual assistants. To get a better perspective, dive into nearly 30 virtual assistant statistics to inform how you’ll scale your business in 2024.
Surprising Virtual Assistant Facts
Virtual assistant research shows that the need for outsourced workers is growing. Virtual assistant work-from-home jobs are becoming more attractive to companies that need skilled workers while still saving as much money as possible. With rising rates of highly educated remote workers, businesses have a lot to gain by utilizing virtual assistants.
- 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
Most industries would benefit from hiring virtual assistants. Some industries are currently seeing more attention than others, though there are signs that this is changing.
- The largest percentage of virtual assistants work in the tech industry. (Zippia)
- 50% of the RealTrends™ Top 10 Real Estate Teams (the most highly rated real estate professionals) have used virtual assistants they found through MyOutDesk.
- The industries that most often outsource work are Information Technology (IT), Finance/Accounting, and Healthcare. (Doxatalent)
Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- 30.9% of virtual assistants graduated with business degrees, making them valuable to a wide range of industries. (Zippia)
- Customer service is the most common virtual assistant task. (Grand View Research)
- The most common job virtual assistants had before becoming virtual assistants was an administrative assistant. (Zippia)
- 24% of small businesses outsource to improve efficiency (Zippia)
Virtual Assistant Statistics By Profession
People working as virtual personal assistants come from a range of backgrounds. Usually, these jobs require great attention to detail, teamwork, and flexibility. All of these skills translate well to virtual assistance services, whether they work in sales or support.
Virtual Assistant Demographics
The majority of virtual assistants are women and a significant amount are Black or Hispanic, meaning that a more inclusive and diverse pool of talent is available to help your business.
- Women make up more than 87% of virtual assistants in the United States, but the number of male virtual assistants has increased by 44% since 2010. (Zippia)
- Most American virtual assistants are over the age of 40. (Zippia)
- 66.5% of virtual assistants in the United States are white, while Hispanic and Black virtual assistants make up over 25%. (Zippia)
Virtual Assistant Salary Statistics
One of the biggest benefits of hiring a virtual assistant is that doing so can save your company money. Even in countries like the U.S. and the U.K. where virtual assistants demand higher pay than those working in developing nations like the Philippines, the savings in salary can be substantial compared to an employee with benefits.
- 87% of virtual assistants are paid hourly. (Prialto)
- A virtual assistant in the U.S. with one to three years of experience makes an average of $49,718 per year, while those with 15+ years of experience see an average yearly salary of $60,291. (Glassdoor)
- The average hourly rate for an American virtual assistant is $24/hr. (ZipRecruiter)
- Virtual assistants in the United States make an average of $50,749 per year. (ZipRecruiter)
Benefits Of Hiring Virtual Assistants
Because a virtual assistant works from home, it can save your company money on overhead and payroll. Hiring them to complete a single project or as needed is another great benefit of a virtual assistant.
- Hiring full-time virtual assistants can save an employer in the U.S. up to 78% in operating costs per year. (Entrepreneur)
- 77% of remote workers reported increased productivity versus working in-office (ApolloTechnical)
- Over 50% of the work virtual assistants are contracted for was previously done by in-house employees. (NanoGlobals)
- Virtual assistants on average take fewer sick days than local hires. (BusinessInsider)
- Productivity increases by at least 13% when employees work remotely. (MyVirtuDesk)
If your company is ready to save money while still being able to grow, hiring virtual assistants might be exactly what you need. Learn how much you can save and then sign up to find the right virtual assistant today.
Virtual Assistant Statistics FAQs
Have questions after reading our virtual assistant statistics? We have answers.
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